LABOUR politicians in a North-East town are boycotting a community group which has invited a right-wing activist to join its ranks.

Trevor Agnew, 32, who stood as a British National Party candidate in Darlington's council elections in May, is acting as treasurer for the newly-formed Harrowgate Hill Community Group.

It says it is a non-discriminatory residents' association and has prominent Conservatives and Liberal Democrats on its steering committee.

The three Labour ward councillors in Harrowgate Hill have refused any contact with the group.

Councillor Liz Hart said: "After the BNP was so comprehensively rejected by the electors in May it is terrible to see this group placing the BNP's most prominent member in the town at the centre of its affairs."

A spokeswoman for Darlington MP Alan Milburn said any BNP involvement in the community caused alarm bells to ring.

Darlington Borough Council cabinet member Nick Wallis described it as a dangerous development for Darlington.

"It is a classic tactic for BNP members to try and gain respectability by linking themselves to community groups," he said.

"It is reprehensible that prominent Tories and Liberal Democrats are prepared to sit round the table with Mr Agnew."

Mr Agnew told The Northern Echo the residents' group had nothing to do with party politics.

He said: "I would describe the councillors as extremists. They say people of certain opinions can't be involved in community politics.

"The group was formed after the election and Labour was invited to join. We are there as individuals working for the good of the town."

Acting group chairman Anne Harrison, who stood for the Tories in May, said she was deeply disappointed with Labour's reaction.

She said: "Trevor's BNP links don't come into it. We are a group of people of all political persuasions willing to work together to better our community."

Committee members Tina Jones and Angela McPherson stood in Harrowgate Hill for the Liberal Democrats.

John Hoodless was an independent candidate.

Darlington Tory leader Tony Richmond said he was happy for Conservatives to be in the group.

Liberal Democrat chairman Brian Fiske said: "We always welcome these residents' groups because the council is becoming more remote."