BNP councillor faces demands to quit over 'Nazi' number plate

A London councillor for the British National Party was facing calls to resign today over a car number plate that looks like the word "Nazi".

Julian Leppert, an aide to BNP leader Nick Griffin, turned up for meetings of Redbridge council in his black Ford Focus with the registration NA51 ZCY.

Council leader Keith Prince said Mr Leppert should "hang his head in shame" and stand down as councillor for Hainault ward which "has one of the highest populations of Jewish people in the country".

Mr Leppert, who stood against Ken Livingstone in the 2004 mayoral elections, denies choosing the number plate deliberately, saying it came with the car when he bought it. But he says he has decided to sell the car because of the controversy it has caused.