The Holocaust-denying leader of the British National Party, Nick Griffin, now a member of European Parliament, was forced to abandon a press conference today when demonstrators showed up throwing eggs.

Dozens of protesters disrupted the event, which follows the British National Party winning its first two seats in the European Parliament. Chanting anti-Nazi slogans and holding placards they surrounded Mr Griffin as he was bundled into a car.

Mr Griffin was elected for the North West region - a result condemned by parties across the political spectrum. Mr Griffin and Andrew Brons, who was elected in the Yorkshire and Humber region, staged a press conference on College Green, opposite the Houses of Parliament.

The BNP leader began the event by holding up copies of national newspapers and talking about what he said were media lies about him and his party.

He denied he had past links with Oswald Mosley, as the former fascist leader “was very hostile to the National Front from which I am from”.

He had been speaking for about two minutes when about 50 to 100 protesters marched towards him chanting slogans and throwing eggs.