The Home Secretary is to be asked to ban a planned extremist political rally in Keighley on Bonfire Night.

Bradford Council and West Yorkshire Police want to ban the British National Party demonstration, which is scheduled to take place outside Keighley Town Hall.

Charles Clarke will be asked to ban any mass gatherings within five miles of the town on November 5.

The Council has requested the banning order because its says people should be able to enjoy bonfire and Eid celebrations in peace.

As reported in the Telegraph & Argus yesterday the planned rally forced Bradford City to switch their FA Cup tie with Tranmere Rovers on November 5 after West Yorkshire Police said they could not police the rally as well.

Force solicitors have written to the far right political party asking them to come up with alternative proposals.

A spokesman said they had raised concerns about the timing and location of the proposed rally with the BNP.

Kersten England, Bradford Council's director of policy and performance, said: "Bradford Council has applied to the Home Secretary at the request of the West Yorkshire Police for an order to ban trespassory assemblies within a five-mile radius of Keighley on Saturday, November 5, under section 14A of the Public Order Act 1986.

"It will be an order which will prevent the BNP, United Against Facism and any other groups from assembling in Keighley to protest or counter-protest. We are confident we will get this ban and once it is secured, the police and ourselves will have the necessary plans in place to exercise the ban.

"We want 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.

"People should be allowed to carry out their planned Bonfire Night and Eid celebrations in confidence and safety."

BNP spokesman Phill Edwards said when a final decision was made the party would "look at how to proceed".

The BNP says the demonstration is to protest 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.