A LLANDYBIE community councillor has resigned from the British National party just 18 months after becoming the second member of the authority to join the far right organisation.

Meirion Bowen, a former Plaid Cymru county council candidate, joined the BNP in April 2009 claiming that locals were "disillusioned" with the mainstream parties.

Cllr Bowen, who sat alongside fellow BNP member Kevin Edwards at council meetings, also maintained that the party had "more in common with the man in the street".

But when pressed by the Guardian last week, Cllr Bowen disclosed that his BNP days were behind him.

"When I joined the British National Party it was the right decision for me at that time," he said. "It is now time for me to move forward.

"I am disillusioned by all of the political parties; however, my time with the BNP was productive and in the best interests of the people of Llandybie."

Cllr Bowen said he had made his decision in the interests of his family, employment and his own personal safety.

"I will continue to act in the best interest of the people of Llandybie without affiliation to any party politics," he added.

Cllr Edwards insisted Cllr Bowen’s departure was not a blow for the BNP. "Meirion has a lot of issues that he feels he should deal with outside party politics," he said. "We remain good friends and still think along the same lines.

"When I lived in Penygroes I received four death threats and was the subject of a string of false rumours which broke up my marriage – Meirion has also been threatened and persecuted."