A BUSINESSMAN has quit his family firm because of his links with the far right British National Party.

Stewart Clough resigned from the well known Clough's Opticians on Newport Street, Bolton, where he had been a director of the company.

Mr Clough, who stood as a BNP candidate in the local elections in Bury, has decided to pursue an 'alternative career' after a meeting with family members.

A spokesman for the company said: "The management totally deplores the policies of the British National Party.

"Stewart Clough, formerly a director, no longer has any role or financial interest in the business.

"Following a family meeting he has amicably agreed to pursue an alternative career. Many of our 25,000 customers and some past and current employees are from a range of cultures and ethnic backgrounds.

"Clough's has given the local community friendly and professional service for more than 50 years and looks forward to continuing in the same peaceful and harmonious way."

Mr Clough's departure from the company comes after a hate campaign against him. Posters daubed with swastikas and bearing his photograph and home address have appeared on bus shelters and lamp-posts around the town centre.

Other posters have appeared in Bolton and Bury town centres over the last three weeks.

Police are treating the matter as incitement of racial hatred and confirmed that they had received a complaint.

A spokesman for the BNP confirmed that Mr Clough, of Summerseat, near Bury, was intending to contest a seat in a Bury ward at this year's council elections.

Dave Jones, North-west spokesman for the BNP, said that he had seen copies of the posters, some of which he said had the word "nazi" scrawled on them.

He added: "The posters are illegal because they are not carrying the name of the printer or publisher This is a particular pernicious way of behaving which has implications not only of boycotting Mr Clough's business, but also of inflaming and inciting people to carry out an attack on his business.

"We have left the matter in the hands of the police and we are working on leads about who might have a grudge against Stewart."

He added that Mr Clough was "incensed and annoyed" by the posters.

Last year, Mr Clough won 663 votes for the BNP, finishing in seventh place, when he stood for election in the ward of Tottington in Bury.

Insp Martin Freschini, of Bolton police, said: "We received a complaint that offensive racist posters had been seen in the Bolton and Bury area that could incite racial hatred.

"We informed the council who removed them from bus shelters and lamp-posts.

"The matter was investigated but we were unable to ascertain the origin of the posters."

The BNP spokesman added that no candidates were expected to stand in Bolton this year as the party "could not guarantee success."

Mr Clough was unavailable for comment.