A LOVE Music Hate Racism Festival is to be staged in Bolton in a bid to halt the rise of the British National Party (BNP).

Plans are under way to hold the musical extravaganza in a park next April, ahead of a possible general election, with the aim of uniting people against the BNP before election fever hits the town.

Local bands will be invited to take centre stage and community centres across the borough will be asked to organise musical events to highlight the many different cultures in the town.

The idea of the festival has won the backing of the Bolton-branch of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and Unison as well as other Bolton-based groups and individuals.

Secretary of the Bolton-branch of the NUT, Barry Conway said: “This is a tremendous initiative taken by people on the ground who are disgusted by the resurgence of Nazi politics in society.

“The mere existence of the BNP is a threat to everyone who cherishes a constructive approach to the problems we face without resorting to hatred, bullying, intimidation and despair.”

He added: “The key battle ground is the youth. Either we tap into their positive energy, excitement and imagination, or we leave them to the narrow-minded bullies to stifle horizons and turn them into ethnic-cleansing thugs.”

A Love Music Hate Racism group has been set up to organise the event.

Group co-ordinator Neil McAlister said: “We have organised bands in pubs later this year in the build up to the main open air concert next year.

“We want all communities to get involved to illustrate the positive side of multi-culturalism which the BNP oppose.”

Anyone interested in getting involved in the Love Music Hate Racism Collective should ring 07931382398 or, during school term time, the NUT on 01942 821431.