A BNP councillor is standing for a vacant Keighley Town Council seat.

Angela Clarke, who represents Keighley West on Bradford Council, was yesterday revealed as one of the two people standing for the Guard House Ward by-election.

But her application has angered current town councillors, who are worried that if she is elected it will destroy the council's independence.

This week Cllr Clarke, who will be standing under the British National Party banner, said she wanted to give 100 per cent to the role. And, although she said she would keep party politics out of her decision-making, she admitted that it depended on what the issue was.

Cllr Clarke, of Bankfield Drive, Braithwaite, said: "I am there to support the people of my ward and I will do anything to work with the councillors. I would like to do the best job for my ward."

She was unfazed by the prospect of any problems between her and current town councillors.

"Maybe there will be a problem, but I am there to help with the majority of its issues," she added.

The seat became vacant after Alex Brown, who himself won a by-election, resigned in May. Ten people on the electoral role demanded the new contest, resulting in the September 9 election. The second applicant is fish and chip shop owner Brian Morris.

Town Mayor Cllr Allan Rhodes was worried by Cllr Clarke's decision to stand. He said: "It is the independence of the town council that I value and I don't want political emphasis being placed on any member. We have all agreed to that in our council dealings. It has worked very well so far ."

He added: "It is a normal election and there is nothing we can do. We have to go down the path of the election. Her party is not really my concern -- it is the electorate's concern."

Since its inception two years ago, the council has worked on the premise that each councillor was free from political persuasion.

Inaugural member Cllr Graham Mitchell said: "In my opinion, national party politics have absolutely no place at parish council level.

"We vote in council according to our consciences, not according to a national political policy."

Cllr Andrew Mallinson, Keighley Area Committee chairman and former town councillor, said: "I think it is a great shame for Keighley Town Council that it could affect their independence."

Cllr Clarke has already courted controversy since she won election to Bradford Council with 1,659 votes. Two weeks ago the Keighley News revealed that she had stood for election even though she was in council tax arrears.

And she also voted in July's full council meeting despite strict rules covering disclosures of interest.