A FORMER Newcastle United football player has called on people in the region to boycott the British National Party (BNP).

Former goalkeeper Shaka Hislop, who plays for Portsmouth FC and Trinidad, is supporting the Show Racism the Red Card campaign.

He has urged voters not to vote for the right-wing BNP in the forthcoming local elections.

Party leader Nick Griffin believes the North-East will have its first BNP candidate elected next week.

The party has denied it is racist.

Mr Hislop said: "In my time in the North-East I found the people in the region among the friendliest I have ever met.

"My family and myself were treated with warmth and respect.

"The BNP are the opposite of this - breading hatred, mistrust and intolerance towards anyone who is from a different religion, culture and country."

He added: "I would urge anyone thinking of a protest vote for the BNP to look at their Nazi history and think again."