YOUR front page banner on Monday, February 23 was the final straw in affirming the present state of crisis in our ailing town.

All my fears and grave concerns (together with so many like-minded people) have been compounded by the announcement that the British National Party is preparing to field a number of candidates in Swindon. How deeply disturbing and dreadful it is, that their research should deem Swindon to be a 'ripe' hunting ground of despair in which to fuel their doctrine of hatred, violence and destruction!

To dismiss and to ignore this further issue as an irrelevancy is absolutely perilous. We cannot afford to have yet another undesirable and unacceptable image foisted upon our town. Neither is it acceptable that Swindon should be placed in the same category as the town of Burnley, which has seven BNP councillors.

The most vulnerable and marginalised people in our community must be reassured. Promises must become a reality. Not in 30 years time! Otherwise the seeds of anarchy and unrest will have become a deeply disturbing factor that has spun out of control. Such an unthinkable and deplorable situation would affect every aspect of potential business and the quality of life for the future generations in Swindon.

The Parks and the Walcot areas were featured in your article. They, and other vulnerable wards that are being targeted by the BNP need to be fielded by candidates from our three major parties ... who possess empathy, strength, understanding and reassurance, in order to regain the trust of our neglected and marginalised despairing people.

We must face this deeply disturbing element of destruction with firm resolve now, for we cannot allow, nor can we afford, the blight of the BNP to take root in the very heart of our town.

MARY RATCLIFFE

Croft Road

Old Town