THE North-East was last night urged to unite to prevent the far-right British National Party from winning seats in today's local elections.

Prime Minister Tony Blair called on readers of The Northern Echo to go out and vote to prevent apathy from letting in the BNP, which he branded "a nasty, extreme organisation".

His message was supported by local celebrities including Horrible Histories author Terry Deary and millionaire businessman Sir Tom Cowie.

Across the region, the BNP is fielding 54 candidates, two of whom are standing for the first time within Mr Blair's Sedgefield constituency.

Anecdotal evidence last night suggested that the BNP candidate was receiving support in the Shildon ward currently held by Sedgefield council leader Brian Stephens.

Mr Blair said: "Local elections are vitally important. They are about who is best placed to get investment into your local community, to help tackle anti-social behaviour and to deliver more police and more community safety officers for your streets. Don't think local elections don't matter - they do.

"The choice today is between investment with Labour versus 20 per cent cuts in public services under the Tories, opportunism with the Lib Dems and a nasty, extreme organisation - the BNP. Make the right choice."

The BNP is contesting all 25 seats in Sunderland, and seven in Darlington, three in Stockton, two each in Wear Valley and Derwentside, plus one in Easington and 12 on Tyneside.

The party hopes to claim at least five second places in Sunderland, and believes it has "a fighting chance" of winning the Town End Farm ward. It is also believed to have a strong showing in Darlington's Northgate ward and Bishop Auckland's Woodhouse Close.

Sunderland-born Mr Deary said: "If the BNP gets even one candidate elected in Sunderland, it will be a stain on the city's name that will take a long time to eradicate.

"The BNP is very cunning and devious. The people of the North-East are not stupid, but some are being deceived and that is what I worry about. If the rest of us don't get out and vote, then I fear the worst."

His comments echoed those made last week by the retiring Bishop of Durham, Michael Turnbull, and the chairman of Sunderland Football, Bob Murray.

North-East motor magnate Sir Tom Cowie said yesterday: "It would be nothing but bad news if the BNP won a local election here. What it stands for is alien to everything that is British and to our democracy. People must vote to keep it out."

Sunderland-born TV agony aunt Denise Robertson said: "The BNP is very good at playing on people's grievances, but it is not the answer.

"A vote for the BNP is not a protest vote that will achieve anything. If you really want your grievances addressed, stick up for yourself in a different way."

Tory MP Eric Pickles, the Shadow Secretary of State for Local Government and the Regions, said: "We urge people to come out and vote.

"I hope the BNP receives a thorough drubbing in these elections."

Harrogate MP Phil Willis, who is the Liberal Democrat's education spokesman, said: "Extreme single issue parties will only succeed because of the apathy of others.

"People should vote for the parties which represent them on all the issues all year round."

Newly-elected GMB leader Kevin Curran, the union's former northern regional secretary, said: "The people of the North-East are renowned for friendliness, decency and pride in our local communities - every value the BNP is opposed to."

The BNP's North-East spokesman, Kevin Scott, claimed that the party's presence had "rejuvenated local democracy". He said: "If it was not for the BNP the local elections in the North-East would have sunk without trace."