PARTY leaders on Epping Forest District Council have been holding private talks to see if they can prevent the British National Party sitting as members on the Cabinet.

The drastic move comes after Loughton voters elected three BNP candidates last Thursday.

With the council currently having a ten-member Cabinet, the BNP would be entitled to one seat.

The Guardian understands that the talks have centred around reducing the Cabinet by one seat, which under the pro-rata system could exclude the BNP.

The far-right party has only one seat less than Labour which has lost four of its eight seats.

The BNP confirms it would accept a Cabinet position should it be offered.

BNP councillor Pat Richardson, who won her seat by just 13 votes, told the Guardian: "If it is available we will certainly be taking it up, if it gives us the ability to have a little more say on the council."