ENGLAND'S last British National Party borough councillor is standing down from his ward in Pendle.

Brian Parker, 66, is giving up to help look after his 90-year-old mother Jean.

His decision to stand down after 12 years as councillor for Marsden ward in Nelson has been welcomed by his political opponents.

It leaves the BNP without any borough or county councillors nationwide and just a handful or parish representatives.

Pendle Tory MP Andrew Stephenson said: "This is great news. It is fantastic that the British National Party is no longer alive as a political force in Pendle, Lancashire or the United Kingdom."

The council's Labour leader Mohammed Iqbal said: "I am glad that the BNP now has no councillors in the country. We will be fighting hard to take his seat in May 3's local elections."

Borough Liberal Democrat leader Tony Greaves said: "The BNP was never a force but always a danger. People have fought hard to remove it from Pendle over the last 12 years. Cllr Parker standing down is good news."

At one point Pendle had two BNP councillors, - Mr Parker and Veronica Cullen; I's leader nick Griffin was a North-West Euro-MP and the party was the official opposition in Burnley with six representatives and Blackburn with Darwen had one elected in 2002.

Elected in 2006, Mr Parker was for 12 hours and independent after resigning form the BNP and then rejoining.

The married father of two daughters said: "After 12 years I feel I have done enough.

"The workload is getting heavier not lighter.

"In addition I have now become of of the family carers for my 90-year-old mother Jean which is taking up a lot of time including night-shifts.

"She does not want to go into a home.

"I have also got a lot of hobbies including mechanical engineer and engineering.

"I am currently repairing an vintage motor-bike.

"I have no regrets about being an BNP councillors as I am a nationalist.

"I am opposed to all black and brown immigration.

"But I have been asked for assistance by members of those communities and did what they asked. That is what being a councillor is all about.

"The best thing about being a councillor was getting things done including getting a footpath of a local school and new street signs in Marsden ward.

"The worst thing was every council meeting I attended because of the way other councillors treated me and the fact I hate bureaucracy."

Marsden ward will now be fought on May 3 by Laura Michelle Blackburn for Labour and Conservative Party candidate Neil McGowan.