CHRISTIAN and Muslim leaders in Burnley and Pendle today united to urge voters not to back the British National Party General Election candidate.

A letter from ten religious clerics from the Islamic, Catholic, Church of England, United Reformed and Salvation Army faiths, including the Bishop of Burnley the Rt Rev John Goddard, says: "As far as it lies within out influence, we would urge all who are registered to vote to do so on June 7.

"We attach the greatest of importance to the views of the prospective candidates and their parties on the dignity and value of each human being, irrespective of ethnic background and creed.

"The Anglican Archbishops in the British Isles issued a pastoral letter last week which reminded us of several questions we might ask as we make our choices on election day, including, 'How do those choices speak to the stranger in our midst and to those on the margins of prosperity? And how do they meet the challenge of loving out neighbour as ourselves?'

"We recognize that people will vote with integrity and conscience for candidates from the various political parties on June 7 and we rejoice in that diversity.

"However we consider that the British National Party, in seeking to provide a Member of Parliament for Burnley, does not share these values of basic human dignity and would counsel most strongly that your readers do not vote for its candidate."

The letter is from the community development officer and general secretary of the Bangladesh Welfare Association, the vicars of St Andrew's and St Stephen's in Burnley , the minister of Nelson and Burnley United Reformed Churches, the Bishop of Burnley, the trustee of Burnley Islamic Trust, the vicar of Briercliffe St James and Area Dean of Burnley, the vicar of Brierfield St Luke's and Area Dean of Pendle, Parish priest of St John's in Burnley and Captain of Burnley's Salvation Army.

The controversial political party has also alienated the local branch of the Royal British Legion after a photograph appeared in an election leaflet.

The newspaper picture and cutting -- from the Lancashire Evening Telegraph in 1998 -- shows the party's candidate Steven Smith presenting money raised at the Celebration of St George's Day at Towneley Park to legion representatives. It was used without the knowledge or consent of this newspaper or the British Legion.

Poppy Appeal organiser Eric Midgley said: "They have used us a political tool. We did not collect the money from that party, we were presented with a cheque from the proceeds of the St George's Day celebration where we provided foods for navy, army and air force cadets.

"As individuals we have our own political persuasions but we never discuss politics or religion in the Royal British Legion -- it is part of our rules."

He said the legion had received five calls from people who had seen the leaflet and were discontinuing their membership. The Anti-Nazi League yesterday mounted a campaign on Centenary Way next to the mill where the BNP have displayed a poster.

They also held a protest on the steps of the town hall in Burnley on the day nominations closed urging the Mr Smith to withdraw his nomination.

Today Mr Smith said: "It saddens me to say this, but the church today has no moral credibility. It has betrayed everything it used to stand for and does not deserve to be taken seriously."

Of the legion's complaint Mr Smith said: "If we have upset anyone we do apologise. It was done in all innocence.

"I had sent the cutting away as part of my CV for the leaflet to be put together and I was just trying to illustrate the type of person I was and the different things I had been involved with."