KIRKLEES Council leader Kath Pinnock was involved in a televised verbal bust-up with the far-Right British National Party at the election count.

The war of words broke out at Dewsbury Sports Centre when the Liberal Democrat muscled in on an interview with BNP councillor David Exley, who kept his Heckmondwike seat.

She called the BNP "a dividing force that could cause real harm".

And she vowed: "We will drive the BNP out of Heckmondwike."

Clr Pinnock declared to the cameras that the new young Asian councillor, Tabasum Aslam, was the future for Heckmondwike, not the BNP.

Afterwards she said: "I believe really strongly that the BNP are a party that can cause massive problems for this community.

"The Liberal Democrats have a chance now we have some power in Heckmondwike to fight against that and try to stop what is happening.

"We will go forward and we will drive the BNP out of Heckmondwike so the people there can start to get what they deserve. Our plan is simply to get people working together and concentrate on doing what is right."

BNP organiser Nick Cass, who failed in his bid to win a seat in Dewsbury South, called Clr Pinnock childish after the outburst.

As Clr Pinnock burst in front of the cameras he heckled her, saying the Liberal Democrats were finished.

He added: "We have worked very hard in Heckmondwike since we got in last year, and that hard work has paid off.

"The claims by Clr Pinnock are childish. I think the reason she said that is because people are starting to realise power is shifting and things are changing."

It was a disappointing day for the BNP, which failed to make headway by adding to its Heckmondwike seat.

Cries of `fascist scum' met BNP candidate Allan Milton as he was heckled by three Socialist Alternative representatives standing in Newsome.

SIGNIFICANT FALLERS:

Ian Rutter (Lib Dem) Police Authority member)

Linda Wild ( Lib Dem) Huddersfield Area Cmttee

David Payne (Lib Dem) Cabinet Member for Enviroment and Transport

Significant newboys ...

Dorothy Lindley (Cons) Returns as Cons from Ind in Colne Valley

Terry Lyons (Ind) Tops poll in Holme Valley N Near miss

Closest result was in Kirkburton where Christine Smith of the Conservatives edged out the Greens' David Hardcastle by 5 votes.