A BNP councillor today vowed to press charges against two fellow members alleging theft after they removed his wreath from a Holocaust memorial.

The bunch of white lilies was placed by Coun Terry Grogan when he and fellow BNP councillor Carole Hughes attended last weekend's service in the town's Peace Garden.

But two Labour councillors who attended the weekend event, Paul Moore and Alice Thornber, were so incensed at what they called the "hypocrisy" of the BNP's presence that they took the wreath away. They deny what they did was theft.

Coun Grogan said today he had reported the incident to police to investigate charges of theft against Coun Moore, who represents Gannow ward and Coun Thornber, who represents Queensgate.

He said: "As far as I am concerned it is theft and I went to the police station to see where I stand in terms of bringing charges against whoever took the wreath, which I paid for out of my own pocket.

"When Diana Princess of Wales died and people left tributes of flowers and teddy bears and a lady was prosecuted for taking some items. I don't see how this is different.

"I will also be reporting the councillors in question to the Standards Board for England as what they have done is unbecoming behaviour for an elected member."

Coun Moore said: "We did not steal the flowers but we did move them away from the memorial. The only solution was to physically remove the flowers from the memorial display to do justice to this occasion of remembrance and the memory of the victims."

A police spokesman said: "As with any other incident this matter is being looked into and any decision will be made on the appropriate course of action."

Burnley Borough Council's head of support and member services said: "We are not aware of any formal complaint relating to an incident at the Holocaust Memorial.

"If we received any such complaint relating to the behaviour of individual councillors that would have to be referred to the Standards Board for England for consideration."