LANCASHIRE'S Chief Constable today vowed to kick British National Party members off the force.

Police chief Paul Stephenson sent out the stern warning after David Blunkett said that BNP members should be rejected from the constabulary.

And East Lancashire MPs have united across party lines to back The Home Secretary's statement.

Mr Stephenson said: "The constabulary has developed a comprehensive community and race relations strategy that includes clear messages that we will not tolerate any inappropriate behaviour, such as membership of organisations like the BNP."

The Home Secretary said yesterday that while he does not have direct power to ban BNP supporters from the police he wants the country's chief constables to come up with a plan to tackle the problem. He said a diversity assessment test taken by new recruits would make it "untenable" for trainees to be BNP members. And he would like the police to copy the prison service, where staff involved with the BNP can be sacked.

The Chief Constable added: "We work very closely with the Black Police Association and the Police Federation to ensure we have the correct approach to any problems of a racist nature that might arise. We have in place procedures to tackle inappropriate attitudes and behaviour."

But Len Starr, leader of Burnley BNP, said Mr Blunkett was taking away people's democratic rights.

He said: "I am not aware of any BNP members that are police officers in East Lancashire but if police members are allowed to join political parties then it should be their choice as to what political party they join. We do still live in a democracy and Mr Blunkett should remember that."

Mr Blunkett's view has been strongly backed by local Tory MP Nigel Evans and his Labour colleagues, Peter Pike and Greg Pope.

Mr Pike, who now has six BNP councillors in his constituency, is determined that racists should be rooted out of the police force. And following the election of Robin Evans as a BNP councillor in Blackburn - though he subsequently resigned from the party to sit as an independent - Mr Evans and Mr Pope are equally tough.

Mr Pike said: "I think it is impossible to be a police officer and member of the BNP. Mr Blunkett is quite right.

"I just don't see how you can police a multi-racial society such as we have, especially in East Lancashire, and belong to a racist party like the BNP.

"I can see that it can be difficult to enforce but I just think being a member of he BNP is incompatible with being a police officer.

Ribble Valley MP Mr Evans said: "I agree with Mr Blunkett absolutely. You simply can't be a police officer and be a member of the BNP in a modern multi-racial society. The police force and the law have to be colour blind.''

And Mr Pope asked: "How can someone with BNP views police a multi-racial town such as Accrington, Blackburn or Burnley?"