A RECORD number of candidates from the right-wing British National Party are to stand for election in North-East towns on May 1.

Seven candidates will contest wards in Darlington and three are to stand in Stockton.

It is the first time the BNP has put forward so many candidates for local elections in the region.

A spokesman said: "We have got massive support in Darlington. It has mushroomed over the past two years, with a lot of people concerned about asylum seekers and crime."

The party's candidates include former Scots guard Harry Marrs and Nigel Nevison, vice-chairman of the Darlington Independent Taxi Traders' Organisation.

Paul Thompson, who was convicted in 1998 for football violence, is to stand for the party in the Northgate ward against two Labour Party candidates and two Conservative candidates.

Robert Bowman, who was known under the name Robert Bruce Baines, stood for election to Darlington Borough Council in 2000. This time he is to contest the Cockerton West ward against two Labour Party members and one Conservative.

The group is also contesting the Harrowgate Hill ward, where Trevor Agnew is standing for the party against three Conservative candidates, three Labour, three Liberal Democrat and one Independent.

Mr Agnew has previously stood for the UK Independence Party. A spokesman for the party said last night that Mr Agnew had been expelled from the group because of his links with the BNP.

The party will also contest Pierremont, North Road, Haughton West and Bank Top.

The Labour Party and the Conservative Party has fielded candidates for all 24 borough wards.

The Liberal Democrats have candidates for five wards and the Independents are standing in four wards.

In Stockton, William Pickering, Jean Allison and William Nunn are standing for the BNP.

Mr Pickering will contest the Norton ward, alongside two Lib-Democrat, two Labour and a Tory candidate, as will Ms Allison, in Hardwick.

Mr Nunn will stand in the Portrack and Tilery ward alongside two Lib-Democrat, two Labour, a Tory and an Independent.

A BNP spokesman said they would be looking to stand in Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland at later dates.

Kevin Scott, regional organiser for the BNP, said: "We see Stockton as a stepping stone to the rest of Teesside, and the issues we will be campaigning on will be asylum seekers, zero tolerance on crime and people's disillusionment with the prime minister."

Abdul Rasool, chairman of the Academy of Asian Arts and Literature, in Middlesbrough, said: "I do not think they will get in."

A spokesman for the Tyne and Wear Anti-Fascist Association said: "The BNP set up a branch in Stockton fairly recently. There is concern that an Independent Labour candidate may split the vote."