THE Bishop of Burnley joined protesters picketing the entrance to a festival being held by the far-right British National Party in a Ribble Valley field.

Over 2,000 BNP supporters converged on the field off the A59 near Sawley for their annual carnival.

BNP leader, Nick Griffin, said his party intended taking control of Burnley Council and would be targeting Ribble Valley at local elections four years from now.

He also announced the BNP would be fielding candidates in every ward in next year's European elections and that he would be standing for the North West.

Over 50 demonstrators gathered at Clitheroe Castle Gates to voice their concern about the rally after being told by police only 19 of them could protest near the festival venue.

Extra police officers were drafted into the rural borough to enforce a 5km exclusion zone around the carnival site.

Demonstrators included Anti-Nazi League national coordinator, Weyman Bennett, who travelled from London, as well as representatives of religious and ethnic groups from throughout East Lancashire, including Burnley Bishop, John Goddard.

He said: "It is important that Christians register whether they want to live in a nation of justice and tolerance. Any group that discriminates against people because of their race or gender is to be discouraged."

Clitheroe resident Farouk Hussain, 33, said: "I am here to voice my disappointment. Clitheroe is a lovely town and we don't want these people here. The police have only allowed 19 of us to demonstrate but that doesn't reflect the strength of public opinion."

BNP spokesman, Phil Edwards, said the carnival had attracted supporters from the USA, Australia and South Africa, as well as representatives of France's far-right Front Nationale. Nick Griffin said the five BNP candidates that failed to gain seats in Ribble Valley Council elections in May would not be deterred.

"We didn't expect to get anyone elected in Ribble Valley but to poll 20 per cent of the vote in a middle-class town is excellent. We will definitely be back four years from now to build on our hard work."

Ch Insp Bob Ford, of Clitheroe Police, said today the event had passed peacefully and there had been no trouble from BNP members or the protesters.

The Highways Agency, which is in charge of trunk routes such as the A59, imposed a 40mph speed limit near Sawley over the weekend 'to prevent danger to the public' during the rally.

The restriction, down from the usual 60mph, ended at 8pm yesterday, although signs asking drivers to slow down were still at the roadside early today.