CONCERNED residents in the Ribble Valley have asked the Home Office to pull the plug on a controversial meeting organised by the British National Party.

UP to 1,500 BNP supporters are expected to converge on Sawley on Saturday but residents fear it will attract a counter demonstration by the Anti-Nazi League.

A popular annual vintage rally that attracts upwards of 10,000 enthusiasts, as well as a weekly car boot sale, have already pulled out of the area because of the BNP day.

Now a petition signed by nearly 300 residents has been handed in to the Home Office by Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans asking for it to be stopped.

A Whalley resident, who helped to organise the petition and did not want to me named, said: "We don't want to give these people a platform in our area."

Copies of the petition have been sent to Lancashire chief constable Paul Stephenson and Ribble Valley Council chief executive Dave Morris.

And Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans yesterday supported protesters by taking a copy to the Home Office.

He said: "The BNP is not welcome in the Ribble Valley and why it wishes to come into our peaceful, beautiful area is beyond understanding.

"Its supporters know they are going to bring trouble by attracting counter demonstrations."

Lancashire police today confirmed they had received the petition.

Divisional commander Chief Sup John Thompson said: "The meeting is a private event being held on private land and we have no powers to ban it because the organisers are doing nothing illegal.

"We know local people are concerned and we will have a high profile presence during the course of the weekend to offer support and reassurance to the community in and around Sawley."

The BNP has said the meeting is a family festival for members and invited guests.