A powerful Government committee is investigating a Bradford magistrate who was identified as having links to the Far-Right British National Party.

William Stanley was publicly named as a BNP member in the House of Commons by Bradford North MP Terry Rooney earlier this month.

Mr Stanley is not currently hearing cases at the magistrates' court, although he has not been suspended.

Mr Stanley, of Caldene Avenue, Low Moor, became a magistrate in 1991.

When contacted on three separate occasions by Telegraph & Argus reporters, Mr Stanley refused to make any comment about his association with the BNP.

Angela Barker, chairman of the Bradford bench, said: "The matter is now being considered by the Lord Chancellor's Advisory Committee and a recommendation will be made in due course.

"Mr Stanley is not sitting as a magistrate at the moment while this matter is under investigation."

It is understood the inquiry into Mr Stanley could take several weeks.

A spokesman for the Department of Constitutional Affairs, which is responsible for the Lord Chancellor's Office, said: "Lord Falconer has asked the West Yorkshire Advisory Committee to investigate the matter and report back to him.

"As a result, it would be inappropriate, at this stage, to make any further comment. In most cases, the bench chairman, who is responsible for members of the bench, can deal with complaints against magistrates.

"In the more serious cases, the local advisory committee can investigate a complaint and report to the Lord Chancellor. The Lord Chancellor may discipline a serving magistrate. He may decide to caution or admonish a magistrate. In the most serious cases, he may conclude that a magistrate should be dismissed."

Paul Maszaros, of Bradford TUC, which has campaigned vigorously against the BNP in Bradford, welcomed the Lord Chancellor's intervention.

"It's inevitable the Lord Chancellor's office would be looking at this," said Mr Maszaros. "It would be good if they could have the same rules for magistrates as for the police and civil service which bans them from being BNP members."

Mr Maszaros said that since the screening of the BBC's Secret Agent documentary, which had uncovered allegedly criminal activities by Bradford BNP members, new members had recoiled from being associated with the party.

Mr Rooney, who is abroad, was unavailable for comment.