BRITISH National Party candidate Robert Baggs has reported a rival to the police over an election leaflet he described as offensive and untrue.

Mr Baggs, who failed to win a seat on either the district or town council when he stood for Calne's Abberd ward in last Thursday's poll, said the leaflet put out by Green Party candidate Derek Quinn contravened election guidelines.

He has handed the leaflet, which was emblazoned with the words 'Don't vote Nazi. No BNP in Calne', to the police who have given it to North Wiltshire District Council's returning officer for investigation.

Mr Baggs, who last week became the first BNP candidate to stand for election in Wiltshire, said: "I found some of it extremely offensive because I have grandparents and uncles who fought against the Nazis in the war. I consider myself to be a patriot and I just want the best for my country."

But Mr Quinn said he was unrepentant. He said: "Good luck to them. I have no qualms or regrets over anything I did in that election and if the BNP stands again I shall do exactly the same. In my view anyone who stands for the BNP carries all the party's baggage, which is racism.

"If I have contravened the guidelines they're quite right to take it to the returning officer. In the end the election result proved that no-one wanted him."

Police officers were posted in the town hall for the duration of the election count, amid fears of a backlash from anti-Nazi protesters if the BNP, known for its hard line on immigration and asylum seekers, won a seat.

The result saw the ward's district council seat taken by Liberal Democrat Carol O'Gorman, with Mr Baggs polling 101 votes to Mr Quinn's 72.

But Mr Baggs said the party was not dispirited by his defeat and he would be prepared to stand again in the ward for the BNP.

"I would like to think we would come back," he said. "I had 118 votes so there are 118 people who think I'm doing right."