IT pains me to hear people complaining over the huge number of asylum seekers in Burnley. The truth, as stated by Burnley Council, is that there are only around 54 asylum seekers in the town.

Lies spread about the numbers of asylum seekers and the ethnic minorities and the plentiful advantages they are said to receive always seem to originate from the same political party.

How, when the facts are readily available, do the people who vote for the BNP seem oblivious to the truth? Some BNP councillors and candidates have previous convictions for violence-related crimes, many directly linked to extreme racism.

All this seems to be ignored in preference to believing BNP lies about how "true British" people will become a minority in their own country within 60 years, and how ethnic minorities receive much greater benefits than other town residents. Where is the proof to back up these allegations?

It is a sorry day when the townspeople of Burnley decide to vote, based on nothing more than lies and deception. Britain is and always has been a multicultural society and there is no place for racism in the Britain of today.

WILL SHAW, Blackburn (full address received).