HEREFORD’S Bishop has urged church members to vote in the forthcoming European elections to stop those with extreme views from gaining seats.

The Right Rev Anthony Priddis joined 10 other Anglican bishops across the West Midlands urging voters not to support any party which promotes prejudices based on nationality, race or religion.

The statement read: “Apathy is always dangerous because it often allows the unacceptable to creep under the wire.

“Less than 3 per cent of the world’s refugees are hosted by the UK and as Christians we have a responsibility to care for the vulnerable and offer a welcome to strangers and foreigners.”

The organisation Hope not Hate has also been active, delivering leaflets to homes in Hereford pleading with people to ignore the British National Party (BNP).

Celebrities including Amir Khan, Beverley Knight and Eddie Izzard have all suported the scheme.

World War II veteran Ken Riley is also quoted in the leaflet, saying: “We must not repeat the mistake the German people made in the 1930s when they voted for the Nazis.

“The BNP might pretend otherwise, but they stand for hatred just like the Nazis. My generation went to war to stop them; today we can do it at the ballot box on June 4.”