SUPPORTERS of the British National Party taunted North-East MPs as they spoke against racism.

Labour MPs Phil Wilson and Helen Goodman were shouted at as they arrived at the Hope not Hate conference, at the Riverside Cricket Ground, Chester-le-Street, County Durham, on Saturday.

About 20 followers of the far right BNP held up placards and yelled slogans outside the meeting, organised by the Northern Trades Union Congress (TUC).

They also took photographs of many of the people who attended.

A police presence at the gates was required to keep them out.

The Northern Echo was told one man claimed he was a delegate, before joining the BNP ranks when he was denied entry.

In an effort to avoid the protest, the Northern TUC asked delegates to arrive up to two hours early.

It is understood that a British Asian cricketer who was due to train at the Riverside Ground on Saturday morning stayed away because of the protest.

MP Jon Cruddas, vice-chairman of the anti-racism Labour Friends of Searchlight group, was the target for much of the shouting.

He said the work of the far right was "worrying".

"This is an issue everywhere now. We've got to remain vigilant and organised and mobilise against them in every community.

"We've also got to deal with the issues people feel unhappy about. In my area, it's housing, in others, it's anti-social behaviour.

"We've not just got to talk about these things, but deal with them."

Asked about the protest, Phil Wilson, MP for Sedgefield, said: "They have the right to protest, but only the BNP would protest against a conference called Hope not Hate."

Conference delegates were told of work being done to fight racism and prejudice.

MPs Phil Wilson and Jon Cruddas and Stephen Hughes MEP spoke about how to oppose the far right, and Helen Goodman, MP for Bishop Auckland, led a workshop on building local campaigns to counter far right parties.

Kevin Rowan, the Northern TUC regional secretary who opened the half-day conference, said: "The North-East is famous for its sense of community and for a historic capacity to work together, collectively, to try to improve its fortunes.

"People are increasingly realising that the BNP and other far right parties run against these instinctive and distinctive North-East values."