Corsham Town Council in Wiltshire - a body which is famous for being 'non-political' - has seen a British National Party candidate win a council seat because he was the only applicant for the town's Rudloe ward.
"We do not hate anybody from other races. But we live on a very small island and its getting full, and it's not racist to say that," commented ex-RAF policeman Michael Simpkins (47).
Dick Tonge, leader of the Conservative group in north Wiltshire, said: "The BNP will not exercise undue influence as they will be lone souls on a large council."
In fact, the BNP is fronting three candidates in Corsham, two in Calne and four in the North Wiltshire District Council elections.
"We've got a bad name," says Michael Simpkins. "My aim is to prove the BNP is not the two-headed monster people think it is. It's up to us to prove we're nice people."
James Gray, Conservative MP for North Wiltshire, ascribes Mr Simpkins' unopposed election as a consequence of 'candidate apathy'. He comments: "The problem with town council elections almost everywhere is that they do not get enough candidates to fill the vacancies."
The BNP has been encouraging Corsham's voters by advising police about acts of criminal damage and anti-social behaviour as well as conducting community safety patrols - all actions which have won some measure of support from the town's 12,000 residents.
