THE first time I wrote to The Northern Echo expressing my opposition to the BNP was during the run-up to the 1992 General Election when the BNP fielded a candidate in Darlington.

Following publication of my letter, I received several viciously racist letters, all anonymous, and posted locally. One was so offensive I handed it to the police, though they were unable to trace the sender. It consisted of about a dozen pages of Nazi diatribe, expressing extreme hatred of black and Jewish people, and warning of a Jewish conspiracy to dilute and weaken the “superior” white race by encouraging black African immigration into Europe.

Very unpleasant, but it could have been worse – others who had spoken out against the BNP at that time had been subjected to threatening phone calls or attacks on their homes or property.

It has been reported that some people have taken advantage of the recently-leaked BNP membership list to send threatening emails and phone calls to BNP members.

If this is true, it is equally reprehensible. Those who genuinely oppose fascism should not descend to such tactics.

Pete Winstanley, Durham.