In an open letter, Bishop Tom Wright said, ahead of next month's local elections, that the region faces the "unwelcome news" of the BNP making potential inroads.

He warned against complacency and urged people to get involved in local efforts to counter the growth of the party.

Bishop Tom said: "The reason the BNP can even gain a foothold in people's affections is because many people in our region feel so disaffected after the last 30 years of national politics, that they are in danger of giving up hope in our regular main parties.

"This isn't anybody's fault in particular. But when a party like the BNP seems to be gaining ground we should all ask the question 'why is there a vacuum there that the other parties aren't filling?

"What frustrations are there that the BNP are exploiting, and what are the wise ways of reacting to, or even meeting, those needs?".

Bishop Tom said that "splendid work" had been done by several clergy, working with local community leaders, for example distributing the pamphlet Hope Not Hate.

He said: "I want to urge all of you to get involved in this effort in whatever local sphere you can." 

Bishop Tom added: "Opposing the BNP isn't simply a matter of saying 'the status quo is working fine, so please reject these idiots'.

"It should be a matter of saying 'what does a healthy society look like and how can we make it clear to our whole population that we are working in the best ways towards that goal?

"Part of the calling of the churches, following Jesus in his work of bringing God's kingdom, must be to help communities ask that question and to work with them towards finding robust and positive answers."

But Sunderland BNP organiser Alan Brettwoood, who is standing as a candidate in Southwick in May's council election, said the bishop should stay out of politics and be more concerned with what's going on in the church.

"The election is a democratic process and it's really strange how religion is starting to intervene. Religion and politics are two totally different things," he said.

"The bishop is intervening in the political process by asking people not to vote for the BNP, he should be concentrating on what's happening in his own religion."

He added: "The press have always given us this bad image of being thugs and Nazis. We're not thugs, we're not Nazis, we're just ordinary, hard-working people that want the best for our country – what's wrong with that?"