Former British National Party councillor John Haycock says he cannot be stopped from standing as a "Countryside Alliance" candidate in Bromyard Town Council by-election.

Mr Haycock did not withdraw his candidature for the June election by Friday's deadline, despite a threat of legal action by the group.

"What is the Alliance going to do about it? If the electoral office has passed it, that's good enough for me," he said.

Mr Haycock said he was no longer a BNP member and was trying to do the Countryside Alliance "a favour" by standing in their name.

He said: "I'm a strong supporter of the Countryside Alliance. I've been to all the rallies."

He suggested the Alliance should register as an official political party in the future if it wished to "prevent this sort of thing" at election time.

A solicitor's letter from the Alliance states the group will have no choice but to seek an injunction and damages against Mr Haycock if he continues to represent himself as a Countryside Alliance candidate. The letter says the Alliance has specifically condemned the "racist" views of the BNP.