RESIDENTS who arranged protests over the Dale Farm traveller site have denied British National Party supporters were involved in the demos.

Crays Hill Residents' Association today refuted allegations the far-right party played a role in organising a protest outside Communities Minister Ruth Kelly's London office in January and a march through the village last month in which 200 people took part.

Association member Andy Peake said: "Our demonstration had members from all walks of life, a true representation of our village.

"We have been called Nazis, neo fascist, racist and supporters of the BNP by ill-informed supporters of Dale Farm."

He added: "All we do is speak as moral and law-abiding people and this opinion of us is vile and unsubstantiated.

"People in our village have had relatives murdered and affected by the atrocities of past wars."

The comments were made in a report published on a number of websites by traveller activist Grattan Puxon following Mrs Kelly's rejection of the travellers' appeals to stay.

Billericay Tory MP John Baron is considering action following claims in the same report he led anti-gipsy activities.

Mr Puxon wrote: "Throughout the winter a hundred families waited anxiously for the results from Ms Kelly, while anti-Gipsy protests led by Billericay Tory MP John Baron continued unabated.

"Demonstrations, in which the neo-facist BNP has taken a leading part, have resulted in increased racist attacks on travellers, including children."

Mr Baron said: "The extreme language used is regrettable, factually incorrect and shows just how wrong they are.

"Using terms such as racist, ethnic-cleansing and neo-fascist can only harm their cause. I am taking advice on what has been said."

Mr Puxon stood by the comments.

He said: "In last May's district council elections around 300 people voted for the BNP candidate in the Crays Hill ward.

"It was fair comment to say some of these supporters took part."

Mr Puxon said the reference to attacks on children referred to claims from Dale Farm spokeswoman Kathleen McCarthy that protesters banged on the windows of a car containing four teenage girls from the site during the March.

The Residents' Association refutes this claim and local police have no record of any complaint being lodged.