Hundreds of protesters lined the streets of Corsham tonight to vent their anger at recently elected BNP councillor Michael Simpkins as he arrived for a town council meeting.

Men, women and children travelled from across the south west to take part in the anti-facist rally outide Corsham Town Hall.

Residents were outraged when Coun Simpkins managed to gain a seat on the town council - after standing unopposed in last month's elections.

More than 300 ant-facist campaigners packed the streets waving banners and balloons and blowing whistles.

In a small pen on the opposite side of the road about 25 BNP supporters gathered in support of Coun Simpkins. A dozen police officers were also on patrol to keep the factions apart.

Local businesses stepped in to offer free food, drink and white roses to the protesters.

Coun Simpkins arrived for the meeting just after 7pm to a rapturous applause from his group of supporters and a deafening roar of "out facist, out" from those opposed to his political views.

They brandished placards reading "Stop the facist BNP", "No facists here" and "Neo facist no".

Among the groups protesting were Respect, the Bristol branch of the National Union of Teachers and Defend The Asylum Seekers Campaign.

Helen Kaye, one of the protest organisers, who lives in Corsham, vowed to introduce a host of multicultural events to show the town is a tolerant place.

She said: "I was absolutely horrified when I realised Corsham had a BNP councillor. He slipped in througn the back door and we must warn other towns before it is too late."

Corsham builder Andrew King, 21, turned up in support of Coun Simpkins. He said: "I voted BNP because I am fed up with immigrants coming over here and taking our jobs.

"I'm glad there's finally someone here to represent us."

Coun Simpkins, in his speech to his supporters, said: "Anyone who actually knows me will tell you, you couldn't find a more non-racist person than me. The BNP forced the elections in Corsham - that is democracy."

He added: "Being tolerant also means sometimes having to tolerate intolerance."

The event passed off without any arrests.

More reaction and pictures in this week's Gazette