THE local leader of the British National Party in Epping Forest has not been selected as a primary school governor.

Controversy was raised earlier this year when Loughton Town Council put forward BNP group leader Pat Richardson as a potential governor for Hereward Primary School.

The governing body of the school, in Colebrook Lane, Loughton, has now selected two other candidates to fill its vacant governor slots.

They are Pamela Jenner, who was also nominated by Loughton Town council, and Michael Hall, who carries out voluntary work at the school.

Head of governors Raymond Warner said the debate caused by the nomination of Mrs Richardson had probably helped create extra competition for the places.

He said: “We were struggling to get one or two people and in the end six came forward. I don't know if the articles caused that. They certainly caused a lot of talking.

“All candidates reported to our governing body, we talked to them, and we decided to extend an offer to two people. We have no vacancies now and we are very pleased with their quality. We have got two people very much interested in the school.”

Mrs Richardson said she satisfied with the school's choice. She added: “I felt I had the right credentials and they were struggling to find people. Then it went in the press and lots of people came forward and they found someone who was eminently suitable which was good."

She said she didn't think her position in the BNP had affected the decision adding: "The gentlemen I went to see said politics didn't come into it they just wanted the best person for the school, and I was quite satisfied with that.”