A POLITICAL party’s bosses have pledged to “continue to grow” in Colchester, despite plans to bar them from the town.

The British National Party responded to pledges by Colchester’s political parties to keep them from canvassing in the area, which was reported in the Gazette on Monday.

Jim Taylor, party organiser for north-east Essex, said: “We want to stress we are a legally-constituted British political party and, as such, we have rights and privileges in this country enshrined in law.

“Our rights are also enshrined in European law as well.

“One of those rights is that we can distribute, freely and without hindrance, our political literature and newspapers anywhere in the EU, and for Colchester Council to say they will drive us out of town is a ridiculous and uneducated statement.

“We will continue to grow the party in Colchester because we have thousands of supporters.

“We are always welcomed on the streets of the town and Colchester people will have a chance to vote for the BNP candidate for this area in next year’s European elections.”