A COUNCILLOR who quit the British National Party after becoming disillusioned today said its leadership pleaded with her not to leave.

Maureen Stowe, 65, of Athens View, Burnley, said she had been thinking about leaving the far right party for some time, but now wanted to move on and work for the people in the Brunshaw ward where she was elected last May.

She revealed that she had found it "quite intimidating" when the BNP's regional organiser Bev Jones and three party workers turned up at her house in an attempt to persuade her not to quit before Wednesday night's Burnley Council budget meeting.

Today the BNP admitted the meeting had taken place but denied the resignation was a sign the local party was crumbling.

Speaking from the home which she shares with husband Russell, 55, Coun Stowe, who will now sit as an Independent, said: "Over the last few months, I've gradually come to realise that the BNP aren't the party for me - I don't really fit with them or they don't fit with me. I didn't get involved in the racial element of the party and I'm not a racist but it just felt right to leave."

"I made my mind up for sure about a month ago and told the other party members who at first begged me not to go but then just refused to talk to me.

"I was fully prepared to go to the budget meeting on Wednesday night when the BNP's regional organiser turned up at my house with three other party workers and tried to persuade me to change my mind.

"I did find it quite intimidating but they insisted on writing a letter saying I would stay, which I agreed to. I didn't sign anything and as soon as they had gone I realised nothing had changed so I phoned Stuart Caddy and told him I stuck by my original resignation letter.

"I don't regret what I have done, either in becoming a BNP councillor or in leaving.

"I'm not really sure what the future holds for the BNP in Burnley and I certainly can't speak for the other councillors or their intentions but I like to think people in this ward voted for me rather than for a party and I shall be working hard from now on to help them, which is why I became a councillor in the first place."

The far-right party briefly enjoyed a spell as the official opposition in Burnley Council chamber with eight councillors taking their seats in May last year.

Coun Caddy said: "This is another step in the right direction. We have worked hard over the last 12 months to combat the BNP and I am delighted to see Maureen Stowe has seen through them. I hope the other six will follow in her brave footsteps."

Liberal Democrat leader and former mayor Coun Gordon Birtwistle said: "The BNP is coming apart at the seams. "

Conservative leader Coun Peter Doyle said: "We must continue to persuade the people of the town that they are bad news for Burnley."

BNP councillor and leader of the party in the council chamber Len Starr, said: "I am glad this episode is over and we can move on with a stronger team who want to work for the party."

, but I was voted in as a BNP councillor and I have no intention of leaving. I am happy with the party Regional Organiser Bev Jones said: "I did go and see her earlier in the week and she did change her mind but by the next day had gone back to her original choice to go.

"This is not a political death blow for us in Burnley and we will be putting up a sizeable number of candidates in the next elections."