THE British National Party has handed out leaflets in a leafy village near York – sparking a hostile reaction from the mainstream political parties.

Glossy leaflets from the BNP have been distributed around Dunnington, to the east of the city.

Andrew Waller, the Liberal Democrat leader of City of York Council, claimed today that residents in the village would be “horrified” it had been targeted by a party that promoted a “message of hate”.

Labour group leader David Scott claimed villagers would see through the BNP’s “lies and half-truths.”

But a BNP spokesman responded by saying it had a right like any other party to distribute leaflets, and the other parties should get used to it.

He said political activity by the party was set to increase in the run-up to the European elections next June, in which it would be fielding a full slate of candidates in Yorkshire.

Jenny Brooks, who represents the local council ward of Derwent, as well as living in Dunnington, said she was surprised if the BNP was targeting the village, but she had every confidence that residents would ignore the leaflets.

She said that when she had canvassed residents before the last local elections, only one had indicated that he wanted a BNP candidate.

Coun Waller said: “The message of hate that the BNP promotes has no place in any part of the city, and I am sure that the contacts and friends that I have in the village will be horrified that it has been targeted in this way.”

Coun Scott said that after the election of Barack Obama, the first black president of the United States, it should probably come as no surprise that the BNP had “reared its head again.”

He said: “I am sure that the residents of Dunnington will see through the BNP lies and half- truths.

“This is clearly a last ditch effort from a party broken by division and infighting.

“In a democracy, we should not fear the BNP or their racist views. We should challenge and show them for what they are.”

Tory leader Ian Gillies claimed the BNP would continue to peddle its message both in rural and urban locations, and that was its democratic right.

“I am sure the residents of Dunnington will treat the BNP leaflets in the same way as others in rejecting their discredited messages and methods.”

Green leader Andy D’Agorne said: “If we get a national leaflet out in Dunnington, will we get coverage for it?”