BNP will not remove stadium image

The Millennium Stadium is one of the UK's most famous sporting arenas

The British National Party (BNP) has said it will not take an image of the Millennium Stadium off its website, despite a request from the venue.

Stadium manager Paul Sergeant said the use of the picture was "deplorable" and that he was "very unhappy".

He said his lawyers had written to the BNP "with the instruction to remove any reference or picture relating to us".

But a BNP spokesman said his actions were "petty and cowardly" and the image would not be removed.

The BNP website features pictures of the stadium alongside Scotland's Forth rail bridge, the Giant's Causeway and girls in St George's Cross dresses.

There is too much sniping at the BNP. We have a lot of support in Wales Dr Phill Edwards, BNP spokesman

Mr Sergeant said: "We don't want them to be associating themselves with us in any way, shape or form."

"We don't support the BNP. They have no association with us. It is deplorable they should take such an icon and use it in this way. It seems that we endorse it."

But Dr Phill Edwards, the BNP's national press officer, said it was a free country.

"It is none of his business. We won't be removing it. Tell him we will be taking pictures from all different angles and putting them up," he said.

Dr Edwards said he did not know what the stadium's lawyers thought they could do about it.

The Conservatives, Labour or no other party have used our image and we wouldn't allow them to do so Paul Sergeant

"It is pathetic. It is petty, cowardly. If the Conservatives, or Labour or Plaid had done it, would he be complaining about it?

"There is too much sniping at the BNP. We have a lot of support in Wales. We are a legal, political party, why should he object?"

Responding to these comments, Mr Sergeant said he did not want to enter into a public debate.

"The Conservatives, Labour or no other party have used our image and we wouldn't allow them to do so," he said.

"Our lawyers will continue to look into removing it from the site."