LEADERS of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) claim their public meeting in York was hijacked by members of the far-right British National Party (BNP).

UKIP leader Roger Knapman says he was duped into being photographed shaking hands with a man he fears was a BNP activist before the meeting at the Guildhall last night.

He claims this could now be "used against him" as his party campaigns for the European elections in June.

Godfrey Bloom, of Wressle, near Selby, who is UKIP's Yorkshire candidate for the elections, claimed there were at least eight BNP members in the 50-strong audience, and that they deliberately asked controversial questions about immigration. BNP leaflets, claiming that the UKIP did not have the "courage" to stop further immigration into Britain, were scattered on tables and chairs outside the chambers in The Guildhall after the meeting.

The Evening Press previously reported UKIP claims that the party had smashed an infiltration attempt by the BNP after intercepting emails which indicated a far reaching plan to disrupt its campaign for the European elections in June.

John Brayshaw, from Easingwold, who is the BNP's national treasurer, was recently expelled from the UKIP's Vale of York branch. He is challenging his expulsion.

Although no one in the audience identified themselves as a member of the BNP, Mr Brayshaw confirmed there were about six members present, including their own Yorkshire candidate for the European elections, Nick Cass.

Several members of the audience made racist comments during the meeting, after which Mr Knapman told the Evening Press: "They (the BNP) can't run their own meeting so they have to come to ours.

"We won't let them join the party, but they're welcome to hear what we've got to say.

"We are not a racist party. We have a huge number of supporters who are of various creeds, colours and origins."

But Mr Brayshaw said: "It was a public meeting and we had every right to be there.

"If anyone feels there were racist remarks being said, they should take it up with the police."

Mr Brayshaw said he had no knowledge of the alleged photograph stunt, but stressed that a picture would be of no benefit to the BNP.

Mr Bloom branded some of the far right views expressed at the meeting "rubbish".

"They're (the BNP) entitled to their view, but they are wrong," he said.

Updated: 10:33 Friday, February 13, 2004