AN INDEPENDENT candidate who is running for a seat on a tiny parish council which has been targeted by far right extremists has outlined his policies.

Steven Mitford hopes to win a seat on Whessoe Parish Council so he can represent the village he has lived in for more than a decade.

Councillors on parish authorities are usually co-opted when a vacancy comes up, but a by-election was called at Whessoe after a petition was submitted to Darlington Borough Council.

Three candidates are to stand - Mr Mitford, John Hoodless for the British National Party (BNP), and independent Trevor Agnew, who has previously contested several elections for the BNP.

Mr Mitford, a father of three, said he decided to run in the election so he could work to improve facilities for local residents.

But the unaligned 41-year-old would not be drawn on the motives of the other candidates in the election.

"I can't really comment on why they are running," he said.

"I realise they have links to the BNP but it's not up to me to comment on that."

Mr Mitford, who works at the SITA energy plant at Billingham, said: "I'm just running to represent the local area because I know lots of people here.

"I started thinking about running for the council about a year ago. Being from the area, I see what's going on so I thought I would put my name forward.

"I hope to improve things like traffic problems, and hopefully get more facilities for young people. Being a father myself, I know that kids need something to do in this area.

"I live right next to the parish hall itself, so it's ideal for me. I will only need to jump over the fence to go to meetings."

The BNP hit the headlines last week when party leader Nick Griffin said that refugee boats leaving Africa for Europe should be sunk at sea to control immigration. Mr Griffin told the BBC "They can throw them a raft so they can go back to Libya."

Last week, Mr Agnew said he would address traffic issues, and problems with litter and dog dirt if elected. Mr Hoodless defended BNP policies, and said: "All we've wanted to do with immigration is cut it down, as Enoch Powell wanted."

The election is held tomorrow.