British National Party candidate Michael Simpkins has won a place on Corsham Town Council.

The father-of-two, who lives in Arnolds Mead, took the seat uncontested when Elaine Marston, the only other candidate for Rudloe ward, pulled out to stand in Pickwick instead.

Mr Simpkins said: "It's great news. It hasn't sunk in yet but I am looking forward to running the town council.

"Anti social behaviour is a big problem in this town that I will be addressing but I will be listening to what local people want."

Mr Simpkins, a taxi driver, says he has received a good response from residents in the town. He said: "The feedback is good and people chase me down the street when I post a leaflet through their door, not to say go away, but to say about bloody time."

The former RAF police officer has an 18-year-old son who is studying at Wiltshire College and a younger son at Corsham School.

Mr Simpkins hit the headlines two years ago when he withdrew his son from the school because of its teaching of Islam.

He said: "I stand by the national policies of the BNP. One of the big things I do not like is British workers losing their jobs to migrants in factories."

Mrs Marston, a Conservative, who is standing as an independent councillor in the parish, said she was caught in an impossible situation.

She said: "Whichever ward I chose to stand in, the other was left open to a BNP candidate. I think they plan to win popularity through the vigilante patrols around the town that they have started.

"They think they can clean up Corsham by rounding up youngsters and taking them off the street but I think they should be careful because you cannot go around doing that."

Leader of the local Conservatives Dick Tonge, who is standing in Colerne, said: "This result is unfortunate. The BNP manifesto is all things to all men but it does not mean anything.

"We have to make sure the police have the support they need to do a good job in Corsham so that the BNP do not use vigilante patrols as a political vehicle."

Police chiefs and community leaders have condemned the patrols held at the weekend by members of the party.