BNP founder Tyndall dies aged 71

Mr Tyndall was a veteran of the far-right scene

British National Party founder John Tyndall, 71, has been found dead at his home in Hove, Sussex police have said.

A veteran of the right-wing fringe of British politics, Mr Tyndall chaired the National Front, leaving in 1980.

He was due to appear in court this Thursday in Leeds alongside BNP leader Nick Griffin on race hate charges.

Sussex Police said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding Mr Tyndall's death which was reported at 0815 BST on Tuesday.

A spokesman for the BNP said Mr Tyndall had been expelled from the BNP twice but added he was an "excellent chap with a keen analytical mind".

"John was a great fellow who knew exactly what our movement was about but it is fair to say that he was not able to carry that forward to electoral success," the spokesman said.

Mr Tyndall founded the BNP in 1982 and was replaced by Mr Griffin in 1999.