A war of words broke out as the British National Party plans to fight for Black Country council seats with a record number of candidates. Dudley Council Labour group leader Coun David Sparks branded members of the extremist party "Nazis in sharp suits" and said the sooner the country was rid of the BNP the better. But Simon Darby, West Midlands regional organiser of the BNP, dismissed his scathing comments as a "cheap smear". Mr Darby, who was one of three BNP candidates who made history by becoming the first BNP councillors in the West Midlands a year ago, said that a total of 23 BNP candidates were standing in Sandwell, Dudley and Walsall. He warned that the word on the street filled him with confidence. Mr Darby said: "We are putting up ten candidates in Sandwell, seven at Walsall and six in Dudley. The complete councils are up for election and everything is up for grabs. "I was voted in last year for the Castle and Priory ward on Dudley Council and we are putting up another two candidates there." Solihull teacher Simon Smith, suspended from his job after his political beliefs were revealed, is standing at Great Bridge. Maths teacher Mr Smith was suspended from St Peter's RC School in Soli-hull recently when news broke that he was planning to stand as a BNP candidate for the European elections. Coun Bill Thomas, leader of Sandwell Council where Labour holds a massive majority, said the BNP had made little impact in the borough. "I am feeling quite upbeat about the elections. I know the BNP got a toehold last year but I don't see them doing much this time - the two BNP councillors in Sand-well have been noticeable by their absence at many civic events and have hardly spoken," he said. Seventy two seats on both Sandwell and Dudley councils are being contested, with 60 at Walsall. Sandwell is currently Labour 55, Conservative 9, Lib-Dem 6 and BNP 2. Dudley's constitution is 31 Tory, 29 Labour, 10 Lib-Dem, 1 BNP and 1 Independent. The constitution at Walsall, run by a Conservative-Lib-Dem alliance, is 24 Tory, 7 Lib-Dem, 2 UK Independents and 27 Labour. * The BNP will fight for two seats in Solihull in the Chelmsley Wood and Olton wards. Chelmsley Wood is currently represented by three Labour councillors whereas Olton is served by three Liberal Democrats. BNP candidates will contest wards in Worcester. Martin Roberts will contest Gorse Hill Ward and Mark Heaton is standing in the Bedwardine Ward. Currently the make-up of the authority is Conservatives 18 seats, Labour 10, Associated Independents with 4, Liberal Democrats with 2 and one Independent Conservative as well as one seat vacant. | 
