A BRITISH National Party activist has been released on police bail after he was arrested on suspicion of directing homophobic abuse at a woman near a party fundraiser in St Helens.

Left wing campaign group Hope not Hate have said that the man is 46-year-old Martin Reynolds, who they claim is the bodyguard of the party’s leader Nick Griffin.

The party held a fundraising event at the Springfield pub in Thatto Heath on Saturday (March 15).

Police were called just after 6pm following allegations that a man got out of his car and made the abusive remarks on Forrester Avenue.

Reynolds was later arrested on suspicion of an aggravated public order offence that related to alleged homophobic remarks.

In a statement posted on its website the British National Party said: “Clearly there is political harassment taking place in an attempt to stop our party from raising funds to fight in the Euro Elections.”

Nick Griffin posted messages on Twitter following the arrest.

One read: “Great response & meeting in St Helens. So police have arrested Martin Reynolds. Handcuffed and carted off.”

He said that the meeting helped generate more than £2,500 for their “Euro fund”.

A police investigation into the incident is ongoing and anyone with further information is asked to call the non-emergency 101 number.