An election triumph by the British National Party in a West Yorkshire council poll is "very worrying", Home Secretary David Blunkett has said.

The BNP won Mixenden ward at Calderdale Council in a by-election on Thursday, taking the seat from Labour despite winning only three votes in 10.

Adrian Marsden, 42, a father of seven, won by 28 votes, after a recount, with the Liberal Democrats second and Labour in third place.

These people dress in nice smart suits but underneath they are the same ugly human beings Alice Mahon, Labour MP, Halifax

It means the party now has five council seats out of around 20,000 in England and Wales.

Mr Blunkett said the success of the BNP "in any area is a signal to all of us".

It was why he had warned last year of the need for a "sensitive balance" between giving shelter to those in need while avoiding illegal immigration "which lets people like the BNP able to win votes from people".

Mr Blunkett said there was a real problem that people did not feel their concerns were being addressed.

Answers 'dangerous'

He added: "We are putting in place a whole range of issues that are going to make a difference, that are honest.

"We need to persuade people that the solution cannot be answered by these far right-wing groups and the answers they are putting forward are dangerous."

The election of the three from the BNP was a kick up the backside for the rest of the council [in Burnley] Stuart Caddy Council leader

Tensions remain eight months on - click here for full story

Last year the far-right party had success in Lancashire, winning a seat in Blackburn and three in Burnley, one of several northern towns where racial tensions sparked rioting in 2001.

Thursday's by-election was called following the dismissal of former Labour group leader Andy Metcalfe, who failed to attend the requisite number of council meetings due to ill health.

The BNP polled 679 votes with the Liberal Democrats coming second with 651.

Labour were beaten into third place with 641 while the Tories polled 214 votes.

The Independent candidate picked up 142 votes.

That means the BNP polled 29% of the vote, compared to the 44% won by Labour at the May council election in the seat.

'People ignored'

The BNP said the result showed the area's people clearly wanted change.

Richard Mulhall, Mr Marsden's political agent, said local people had been denied a voice.

"People in Mixenden have been neglected for years and years," said Mr Mulhall, pointing to crime and drugs problems.

BNP supporters gathered outside the Mixenden count

Alice Mahon, Labour MP for Halifax, said she hoped the result was a temporary setback for the residents of Mixenden.

"They [the BNP] like to prey on people's fears, they attempt to whip up division against other people.

"These people dress in nice smart suits but underneath them they are the same ugly human beings trying to bring division wherever they go."

Mrs Mahon said she took some consolation from the fact that only one in 10 voted for the far right party in the ward.

Tory councillor John Ford, leader of Calderdale Council, also voiced his concerns.

He said: "I'm personally very disappointed with the result, I'm disappointed as a Conservative and I'm very disappointed for the residents of Calderdale."

BNP policies

The result comes two months after BNP candidate Robin Evans won a seat on Darwen Borough Council in Blackburn with a majority of just 16 over Labour.

Among the BNP's policies are "resettlement" of black and Asian people to their lands of ethnic origin.

The party is considering fielding candidates in the Scottish Parliamentary elections in 2003 as well as forthcoming polls in Allerdale, Carlisle and Northern Ireland.

In the Calderdale election on Thursday, the results were as follows:

• BNP: 679 votes
• Liberal Democrats: 651
• Labour: 641
• Conservatives: 214
• Independent: 142