I AM appalled that the Citizen has allowed its letters page to become a mouthpiece for the BNP.

It is bad enough that the BNP is considering standing in our local elections without newspapers assisting it to spread clearly racist views.

Despite the feeble protestations to the contrary, the letter from the BNP expressed obviously racist attitudes. The giveaway is the constant emphasis on white and 'non-white' people existing together.

The BNP may not talk openly about white supremacy but read between the lines and the old ideas emerge that historically have formed the basis of apartheid, ethnic cleansing and whites only immigration.

The party aims to divide communities along race and ethnic lines and now also uses religious difference in the form of anti-Moslem arguments to fuel conflict.

The claim that it has taken 'appropriate' action against members who openly express racist opinions is untrue. Mark Collett, who confessed his nazi sympathies on Channel 4's 'Dispatches' programme is still a leading light in the BNP.

These people are trying to fool us with a veneer of respectability and by pretending to be a legitimate political party. In reality, their intentions are the same as they have always been - to stir up hatred and prejudice.

I call upon this paper and the people of Lancaster to ensure that this does not happen here. We need to send a clear message that the BNP will not divide our community.

Mrs T. Platt

(address supplied)

Editor's note: The Citizen letters page has not become a 'mouth-piece' for the BNP. We have published a host of letters condemning the party and believe that, like everyone else, it is entitled to a right of reply.