A jury at Leeds Crown Court has cleared BNP leader Nick Griffin of two racial hatred charges and BNP activist Mark Collett of four others.

The jury has been discharged after failing to reach verdicts on the remaining charges - four against Mr Collett and two against Mr Griffin.

Mr Griffin, 44, and Mr Collett, 24, had denied using words intended to stir up hatred in West Yorkshire in 2004.

Mr Griffin said the verdicts were a "tremendous victory for freedom".

Their six speeches were filmed by an undercover BBC journalist for a documentary on the BNP.

Mr Griffin told supporters outside the court that the verdicts were a "fantastic day for the people of this country".

'Persecute us'

"This evening millions of people in Britian will be holding their heads a little higher and walking a little taller.

"The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) will now have to go and decide whether they want to do it all over again.

"If the CPS feel they must contuinue to persecute us simply for telling the truth then we will see them in court."

Mr Griffin, of Llanerfyl, Powys, had denied two charges of using words or behaviour intended to stir up racial hatred and two alternative charges of using words or behaviour likely to stir up racial hatred.

'Vicious faith'

Mr Collett, of Swithland Lane, Rothley, Leicestershire, denied eight similar charges.

The four charges he was acquitted of relate to speeches made at The Royal pub in Pudsey and another at the Falconer's Rest pub in Morley, in which he described asylum seekers as "a little bit like cockroaches".

In other speeches, Mr Griffin calls Islam a "wicked vicious faith" and Mr Collett says: "Let's show these ethnics the door in 2004."

But during the two-week trial, the defendants told the jury they were engaging in legitimate political dialogue about issues which concern ordinary working people.

BPP Comment: Hopefully the CPS will NOT try for a retrial. Despite the fundamental policy differences we have with the BNP - this is a BIG victory for free speech and a real smack in the face for the Marxist New Labour tyrants and their vicious Race Act!