THE British National Party candidate standing in the Penygroes ward in the forthcoming county council elections has hit back at attacks from his rivals.

Cllr Sian Thomas, who will be standing against Kevin Edwards, has claimed residents who nominated him were not aware of the party he was representing.

And Llandybie community councillor Alun Lewis called for Mr Edwards' name to be withdrawn, adding that he had just moved into Penygroes and few residents knew him.

But Mr Edwards says the Electoral Commission have confirmed he has done nothing wrong.

"For the record, I have lived in Penygroes for almost four years," Mr Edwards told the Guardian.

"Also, I am so sorry to deflate Mr Lewis's ego, but I have never heard of him either.

"If he was a councillor I would have thought that his work might have been brought to my attention, but it has not."

"I am so happy that Cllr Thomas has had so many messages of support from other political parties who, she says, will now vote for her.

"If I had not decided to stand, Cllr Thomas would have been elected unopposed and no one in the Penygroes ward would have been able to exercise their democratic right to vote.

"It is an absolute disgrace that it appears that a deal has been done with Labour for them not to oppose her.

"So Cllr Thomas, if you had expected to walk in unopposed, you are mistaken - you have a fight on your hands.

"In a nutshell, let the people decide on May 1."

Meanwhile, Michael Green, the BNP candidate in Tycroes, says he is surprised at the support he is receiving.

"People in this country have been badly let down by the four major political parties," he said. "I am an ordinary human being who just happens to be standing for the BNP."