Protest held against BNP festival

Last year, the annual BNP summer festival was also held in Denby

A protest has been held against a British National Party (BNP) festival planned in Derbyshire.

The BNP will hold its annual summer festival in Denby for the second time, from 15-17 August.

Last year, the Red, White and Blue festival of "Britishness" was held at the same place, near Belper.

On Tuesday night about 60 protesters gathered in Ripley Market Place, at a meeting between Amber Valley Borough Council and the BNP.

There were about 20 police officers at the location, and the area around the council chamber had been cordoned off.

The meeting was called by the council to decide on a liquor licence and live music at the venue.

'Fabricated' allegations

The BNP later withdrew the application.

The party said the festival would go ahead as planned, but there would be no sale of alcohol or live music at the festival.

A spokesperson for the council said it would be held on private land, so the party was free to organise the event.

Liam Conway, one of the protesters, said: "We have got to stop the BNP."

Jake Jackson, who was picketing the meeting in Ripley, said he had spoken to local residents and they had raised several complaints about the event.

Alan Warner, the BNP councillor for Heanor and Loscoe who is holding the event, said the allegations were "fabrications".

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