The far-right party is paying for a series of banner ads on the papers' companion websites in the run-up to next month's elections to the European Parliament.

Titles where the adverts appeared included the Stourbridge News, Bromsgrove Advertiser, and Basildon-based daily The Echo.

But Newsquest managers have defended the decision to accept the ads, saying it would be wrong to "selectively discriminate" against political parties in the run-up to an election.

Criticism of the company has surfaced on a number of left-wing blogs, while the National Union of Journalists has also hit out at the move.

General secretary Jeremy Dear said: "Newsquest should be ashamed of itself for taking money from an organisation that advocates racist policies that would directly discriminate against the communities these websites serve."

"Many journalists who have investigated the party in the past have since found themselves on far-right hate websites that try to intimidate journalists to stop them from taking up investigations.

"Journalists covering the elections should also remind themselves of the NUJ's guidelines on reporting racist organisations which are available on the union's website."

Barry Kade, writing on an anti-fascist blog entitled Lancaster Unity, said the ads made the websites "look like BNP publications."

"Many people will be shocked when they look at the online version of their local newspaper. Instead of appearing to serve the whole local community, these newspapers will suddenly take on the appearance of exclusive party political organs - and not just of any party, but of the notorious racist and fascist BNP," he wrote.

Mr Kade claimed the ads "make local newspaper websites look like a BNP publication, with the slogans of the extreme right-wing party dominating the page."

The BNP ad as it appeared on the Bromsgrove Advertiser website. The ad is no longer visible.

Newsquest Stourbridge has issued a statement in response to a number of complaints from councillors, church groups and others over the ads.

"We accept advertisements that comply with the law and the Code of Advertising Practice. We cannot selectively discriminate against legally constituted political parties standing in a public election," it said.

"Indeed, we would say that, in doing so, we might be playing into the hands of those intolerant and anti-democratic forces that people condemn. It is for the electorate to cast judgment, not us."

Newsquest's head office has also been approached for a formal comment but the company has yet to respond.

Martin McNeil, editorial director of Newsquest Essex which publishes The Echo, was emailed by a reader concerning the ads. His reply has since been posted on the Lancaster Unity blog by the reader concerned.

It read: "I appreciate how strongly many people feel about the BNP, but it would be undemocratic and against the principle of free speech to refuse to accept any party's advertising provided it falls within our guidelines.

"The Echo has consistently opposed the BNP in our Comment column and will continue to do so. As editor, I have twice been taken to court, unsuccessfully, by a BNP activist who did not like my editorial stance.

"Despite this, I feel I must defend the right of all parties to take out paid-for advertising in support of their election candidates."

Submitting Information

Click here to have your say on this story