A five-mile exclusion "cordon" is to be thrown around Keighley on bonfire night in a bid to keep right and left wing extremists out of town.

Home Secretary Charles Clarke last night signed an order which is aimed at banning a British National Party rally due to take place in Town Hall Square, on November 5.

Kersten England, Bradford Council's director of policy and performance, said: "This action will prevent the BNP, United Against Fascism and any other groups from assembling in Keighley to protest or counter-protest."

Bradford Council and West Yorkshire Police applied to the Home Secretary to ban the BNP demonstration, which is said to be about the closure by West Yorkshire Police of a unit established to investigate sex offences, including the grooming of young women by Asian men in Keighley.

They feared it would attract outsiders from both sides of the politcal spectrum and needed an order to help keep them out of the area.

Last night Bradford Council stressed the "trespassory assemblies" order would have no effect on other bonfire night parties and Eid celebrations, and urged residents to enjoy themselves on November 5.

Kersten added: "People should be allowed to carry out their planned bonfire night and Eid celebrations in confidence and safety. We wanted to dissuade people from going to demonstrate in Keighley and we are doing all we can to protect the town and make sure it stays safe for all communities."

Bradford Council asked Mr Clarke to make the order under section 14A of the Public Order Act 1986, covering an area within a five-mile radius of Town Hall Square, on November 5.

The order covers council owned and administered land such as parks and the war memorial in the town centre. The public are urged to go about their business as usual.

But the order means the council has powers to act if it believes a large gathering of people could lead to damage and obstruction.

Private land is unaffected by the order. This means that gatherings such as organised pub and charity bonfires can go ahead -- as can garden parties. West Yorkshire Police said: "We made it clear that if the organisers were unwilling to change their plan an application would be made to the Home Secretary to seek to prevent it and that is what we -- in conjunction with Bradford Council -- have done.

"There is already a huge amount going on that day -- it is bonfire night and also FA Cup matches are taking place."

BNP spokesman Dr Phill Edwards said: "It is typical of this Government's undemocratic way of stopping democratic activity.

"We are not the instigators of any potential trouble. It would not have been a march but it would have been a vigil. There would not have been any trouble unless the UAF lot turned up. It is them who should be banned."

He added: "We are law-abiding people and if we cannot do it, we will not do it."

Bradford City have switched their bonfire night FA Cup tie against Tranmere Rovers, at Valley Parade, to Sunday, November 6.

l A sponsored walk to raise money for survivors of the south Asia earthquake has been moved on by a week. The ten-mile walk from Lister Park, in Bradford, and ending in Victoria Park, Keighley, will now be held on Saturday, November 12. Details can be found on www.quakewalk.info.

Mayor tells of invasion fear

Keighley Town Mayor Cllr Tony Wright and Deputy Mayor Cllr Graham Mitchell yesterday issued a statement "strongly supporting" the decisions to ask for a ban on demonstrations and counter demonstrations.

The Mayor and his deputy said: "We were extremely concerned to hear that the British National Party was planning a public demonstration, in Keighley, on November. 5 The proposal had attracted the attention of branches of the BNP in other parts of the country and would inevitably have attracted various groups of counter-demonstrators from a variety of other organisations.

"We fear the invasion of our town by large numbers of visiting demonstrators, from both ends of the political spectrum, and a resultant mass physical conflict which could then impact upon our own local people in a serious breach of public disorder." They added:"As the duly elected Mayor and Deputy Mayor of the politically neutral Keighley Town Council, we recognise that we have a 'duty of care' --

"To protect the innocent people of Keighley, of whatever colour, creed or ethnicity, and their homes and property, from physical harm.

"To protect our network of excellent inter-community relations, so carefully and sensitively nurtured over many years.

"To protect the economy of the town from the kind of negative national publicity which so badly affected Bradford after two bouts of public rioting."

They said: "Keighley has every right to be proud of the way in which the vast majority of its people stand together, live together and work together in harmony. None of us can afford to let that relationship be destroyed by outsiders intent only upon chaos, damage, mayhem and upset."