Earlier this year the party's national chairman Nick Griffin made a controversial visit to Hastings to drum up support.

At a secret meeting Mr Griffin revealed the BNP had targeted the town for future electoral success and said it would be putting forward a record number of candidates for election.

It looks like they have been true to their word.

The party's numbers have been swelled by the defection of Mick Turner from the UK Independence Party, who stands in Castle Ward.

Local leader Nick Prince will again stand in Tressell where last time out the two BNP candidates won 14 per cent of the vote.

Frank Swayne stands in Central St Leonards while in Hollington Victoria Britton will be hoping to build on the 18 per cent she polled last time.

Despite only attracting 3.6 per cent and 5.9 cent of the vote in by-elections for Gensing and Silverhill last year, Mr Prince is confident they will return their first ever councillor.

He said: "We are setting out to win all four seats.

"There are a lot of issues which have been dealt with badly, like the Gypsy sites and parking in St Leonards.

"Any BNP councillor would make sure things like this are properly debated and the decision-makers held accountable.

"You could say a vote for the BNP is a vote for democracy."

Anticipating a barrage of criticism from his mainstream political rivals, Mr Prince continued: "All the anti publicity our rivals come up with is just to cover up their own bad records. All the time they are shouting about us they are moving attention away from their own shortcomings."

News of the BNP candidates is certain to cause a stir. During the last bout of polling Hastings MP Michael Foster slammed the BNP "Hitler clones" saying their politics had no place in Hastings.

Then the party was widely criticised for duping a charity into hiring its hall out under the name British Heritage when Nick Griffin came to town

Nevertheless, Mr Prince is adamant they are here to stay.

He said: "We have made inroads into the town and people can expect even bigger inroads over the next two years.

"We will also have candidates in the next county elections. The eventual aim is to have a candidate contesting every ward in Hastings."

Council leader Peter Pragnell, said: "I am sorry to hear they are putting candidates up and hope they do very badly but this is the price of democracy and free speech."

What do you think of the BNP's decision to put forward four candidates in the May 1 elections? Will you be voting for them? Are they even welcome in Hastings? Leave your comments below.