ALL the major political parties have pledged to field candidates to stand on Darwen Town Council if it gets the go-ahead next month.

Conservative, the Liberal Democrats, Labour and For Darwen are planning to fight the election, which would take place in May.

The announcement means Darwen Town Council will not follow the model of some parish councils which are non-political bodies focu-sing just on local issues.

There are also fears that the vote could be “hijacked” by the far-right British National Party, which is promising to field six candidates to fight for the 13 positions.

Former Blackburn BNP councillor Robin Evans, who is leading the party’s campaigning in the borough, said his party would fight for places on the town council, with no borough council elections taking place next year.

He said: “It would be a shame to waste it. We will put at least half a dozen up. Membership in Darwen is growing.”

For Darwen leader Tony Melia pledged to put himself forward if the BNP stand.

He said: “It would be a shame if the BNP tried to hijack it, but I don’t think they will do well.

“We have lots of candidates wanting to take part. I was thinking of letting them have a go but if the BNP are standing I will be standing myself.”

Lib Dem chairman Kevin Connor, whose party has opposed the town council, added: “I would hope we would stand.

“We did think having a town council wasn’t the way to go, but having said that, we need to give people the choice.”

Labour councillor Damien Talbot said: “If other parties are fielding candidates we will do so.

“We are the only party that has always fielded a candidate in every ward.”

Tory Mike Lee, who will take over as council leader in December, said his party would “definitely” field candidates if the town council became a reality.

Blackburn with Darwen’s council forum will take the final decision next month on whether to ratify the ‘yes’ vote in October’s refer-endum.