NATIONALIST party the BNP has been leafleting homes across Calne as part of a massive campaign.

Furious residents complained to police after the far-right party pushed propaganda through their doors.

The leaflet claims that robberies, muggings and sexual assaults are on the up across the country.

It reads: "While the police are sat at the side of the motorway or in political correctness classes the real criminals are free to wreck decent people's lives.

"A wave of anti-social behaviour is sweeping our streets and estates with a minority of rowdy youths making life unpleasant for the law-abiding majority."

Richard Snell, the landlord of The Kings Arms in Calne, said: "The BNP have picked an electoral stance to become more attractive to the electorate and get more people involved.

"They are not showing their true colours."

The BNP sent the leaflet, which has a form for people to fill in and send off, to find out more about the party, to the town council.

Sgt Steve Cox, deputy sector head for Chippenham, Corsham and Calne , said: "Wiltshire Police is a non-political organisation. However, we are aware of certain information which has been circulating within Calne.

"We would like to reassure the public that we have a visible presence, policing the town 24 hours each day. This is in addition to the neighbourhood policing teams based at Calne police station."

BNP member Robert Baggs said the leafleting was part of a town- wide campaign and not related to the upcoming by-election.

He said: "We had decided to do a big campaign in Calne. The leaflet was a deliberate choice as people are concerned with the level of crime in Calne.

"We want to tell people we provide answers to some of these problems. We are not frightened of tackling the issues other parties shy away from."

After UKIP councillor Jill Martin resigned, people in Calne called for a by-election.

Mr Baggs would not confirm if he would be running for BNP and it is rumoured former councillor Ellie Bland will stand for the Lickhill seat. Geoff Brown will stand for the Green Party.