SINCE the local elections when 9,984 people in Burnley voted for the BNP, the response of politicians and councillors has been red-necked with hate and fear in their campaign to condemn these people as sinister bogey men and wander stamping the streets and chanting offensive slogans.

Not so -- these people are in protest. They are appalled at the council's continuous obsession with racism, way beyond the bounds of credibility.

Burnley, like others, is a town of filthy streets, empty houses, vandalism, crime, deprivation, drugs and unemployment.

In the country and this town in particular clawing back its heritage, of which once it was justly proud? Some 9,984 people do not think so.

Criticism only hurts the ones who deserve it and the sooner councillors realise self-preservation is less important than objective solutions, the better.

Some £93billion has just been allocated for overall investment and millions are spent on the welfare of asylum seekers, but £15million is not available for the elderly who have done more for this community than others ever will.

The 9,984 mostly intelligent people were not 'conned' into voting BNP. It was above all a protest vote.

ERIC BATES, Marsden Road, Burnley.