THE British National Party which doubled its number of seats on Epping Forest District Council to six at the local elections should be "driven out", according to Conservative Party leader David Cameron.

Speaking at a dinner at the Theydon Garnon home of district council leader Di Collins who last week became the first Tory leader of the local authority for more than a decade Mr Cameron said even one BNP seat was too many.

At the May 4 elections the Conservatives came within one seat of gaining overall control of Epping Forest District Council for the first time in 12 years, but an arrangement with the Independent group has seen the Tories secure all but one of the cabinet positions, with the other going to former leader, and Independent member, John Knapman.

Mr Cameron said the Tory success in Epping Forest was "very, very promising" for the future of the district.

He added: "We saw results right across the country where Conservative councillors and Conservative candidates did extremely well and in Epping Forest we have the first Conservative leader for 12 years. People voted for a party that's going to be careful with their money but invest in their priorities, and that's exactly what they will get."

Condemning the BNP, Mr Cameron said: "It's a party that thrives on racial hatred and division and I'm determined that we should confront it and defeat it. We need to show that we're in touch with people's concerns and that we provide good local government and we drive the BNP out."

Asked if he was worried that the British National Party now had six seats on the council, Mr Cameron said: "As far as I'm concerned one seat for the BNP is too many. I said I hoped people would vote for any other party than the BNP because they're actually trying to set our communities against each other.

"I think a Conservative Party that is renewed and reinvigorated, and in all our urban areas as well as rural areas, actually is the best way to drive the BNP out."