A RIGHT wing party is planning another demonstration in the North-East - even though a ban on marching is in force.

But the National Front's opponents have also pledged to hold their own counter-demonstration in the centre of Sunderland.

Home Secretary David Blunkett issued a ban on the National Front (NF) marching through the city last month, but the party was allowed to hold a brief rally in a park.

The party wanted to protest against asylum seekers on Wearside, and its plans provoked a rally by groups including the Anti-Nazi League and Tyne and Wear Against Racism.

In the event, the rally did not take place, as 25 NF members were arrested by police on their way to the city.

They were released without charge, apart from two people who have to return on Saturday to answer bail.

The NF has announced on its website that it plans to hold a demonstration in the city the same day.

Tyne and Wear Against Racism plans to hold a gathering near the railway station, between noon and 1.30pm.

Spokeswoman Doreen Purvis said: "We are calling on all those opposed to the Nazis to join our protest and sign our petition No Nazis in Sunderland."

A spokeswoman for Northumbria Police said Mr Blunkett's ban, which Sunderland City Council applied for, lasted for three months.

But she said it only applied to marches and that the police could not prevent rallies being held and could only say where they would be held and for how long.

"We would do everything that we possibly could to protect public order. We are monitoring the situation."