A Keighley BNP councillor has been barred from holding advice surgeries at two community centres in her ward.

Angela Clarke has been told she cannot meet constituents in Braithwaite's Keith Thompson and Whinfield centres. She has accused the centres' voluntary management committees -- whose members include Keighley town councillor John Philip -- of being petty tyrants.

She said that as a legally-elected member of both Bradford district and Keighley town councils she should be allowed to hire the buildings.

Centre bosses have responded that they were concerned about the British National Party's policies and beliefs on immigration.

Braithwaite People's Association, which runs the Keith Thompson Centre, said the ban on BNP events and surgeries was imposed more than 12 months ago. Secretary Maxine Snowball said that as an organisation leading on community cohesion it could not be associated with the BNP.

Cllr Clarke this week insisted the booking would be for a surgery, not a political meeting, just as local Labour politicians hold surgeries at the Keith Thompson Centre. She said: "The ban on me is clearly an attempt to hinder me from doing my duty of addressing constituents' problems.

"I see this as a blatant ploy to overrule the electorate's democratic decision by petty tyrants exploiting their 'ownership' of the centres. I am a representative and spokeswoman for my community; an attack on me is an attack on my neighbourhood," said Cllr Clarke, pictured.

John Philip, treasurer of the Braithwaite People's Association, said his committee would contravene its equal rights policy by letting in organisations such as the BNP.

He said: "Our management committee asked for the BNP's equal rights policy and constitution -- we won't reconsider until we get both. Basically, the front of the BNP doesn't come over as an equal rights organisation. If someone comes through the door they don't like, they will turn them away."

A spokesman for Braithwaite and Guard House Community Association, which runs the Whinfield Centre, said: "The decision not to allow Cllr Clarke to use the centre is in keeping with the association's policies."

The Braithwaite People's Association last week met with Braithwaite and Guard House Community Association to discuss their response to Cllr Clarke.

Cllr Clarke has also complained about the ban to Bradford Council, which provides money towards running costs for both the community centres.

She was told that the centres were private organisations and within their legal right to refuse to accept bookings, provided they did not breach equality legislation.