CHILDREN as young as five are being offered prizes to draw propaganda posters for a racist political group.

The British National Party has been condemned for trying to recruit children through a leafleting campaign in schools.

Children are urged to join the poster competition, which runs on the theme "racism cuts both ways".

It is designed to show that white people are more often the victim of racist attacks than black people.

Parents and teachers have reacted with fury after primary school children were targeted by the group.

Hundreds of leaflets promoting the competition have been given to schoolchildren on Tyneside and Wearside.

The leaflet, headed "you're never too young to have your say", offers a computer game as the prize for the best poster.

BNP activist Kevin Scott, 37, said: "We decided to launch it in the North-East this week to coincide with the beginning of the new half-term.

"I've handed them out to our members who have children at school, and the kids will distribute them among their friends."

John Bangs, of the National Union of Teachers, condemned the idea, saying: "I think it is a nasty little publicity stunt. There is no room for complacency. Schools need this kind of thing like a hole in the head at the beginning of term."

Mike Hartman, of the Tyne and Wear Anti-Fascist Association, said: "If any of these leaflets appear at schools, they should be handed over to the relevant authorities straight away.

"They should not be given to children."

Linda Williams, of the Sunderland Governors Association, said: "I would be very disappointed with any group sending political information into schools, whether it's the BNP or anyone else."