BNP 'disappointed' with local election results

Please note: This report covers the BNP's performance in the 2007 local elections. See 24dash.com for full round up of 2008 results.

Fears of a strong performance from the British National Party appeared to be fading today, with the right-wingers failing to make significant gains.

The party had fielded a record 750 candidates in a bid to boost its 46 local council seats to around 100.

However, although vote share was up in the north east and support also rose in Windsor and Maidenhead, other anticipated successes did not materialise.

It retained four councillors in Sandwell, West Midlands, but had been widely predicted to add to that tally.

Four candidates in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead failed to win ballots, but claimed victory after soundly beating their Labour counterparts.

Meanwhile, the BNP came fifth behind the major parties in many areas of Wales - and surged to 9.4% in Wrexham - but looks unlikely to have gained any seats on the Assembly.

The BNP admitted the results had been "mixed", with deputy leader Simon Smith telling the BBC: "It's disappointing, but we'll be back next year."

All the main parties had been working together on fielding candidates to minimise the electoral threat from the extreme right.

Don't miss the 24dash.com audio bulletins for the latest news and information - http://www.24dash.com/podcasts