WIRRAL’S only BNP candidate says he “no longer has time for Nazism” after photographs emerged of him performing the infamous Heil Hitler salute.

Joe Killen, who is standing in local elections for Birkenhead and Tranmere ward, was shown in a series of pictures with his right arm raised to imitate the salute of allegiance to the German Führer.

And in one image, Mr Killen is photographed standing with another man in front of a wall with graffiti reading “White Power”.

However, following the picture’s publication on anti-racist online blog "Hope Not Hate" Wirral's BNP spokesman dismissed Mr Killen’s actions as “pranks” and insisted that he has since matured.

The spokesman said: “Joe says it was a long time ago and he’s grown up now, and he no longer has any time for Nazism.

“We think it's better to integrate angry young men in the democratic process rather than to leave them out on their own.

“Also, if the Leftist media didn’t keep on and on about the Nazis, everyone would have forgotten them by now.

“It’s all in the past and fortunately it’s going to stay there.”

But Simon Cressy from Hope Not Hate said Mr Killen and his colleagues are trying to “pretend” they are not racist in a bid to pick up votes.

He said: “The BNP have tried to con the voters recently by wearing a suit and tie in the vain attempt of pretending they are 'respectable, non-racist' politicians.

“Killen is a clear example that if you scratch the surface the BNP are nothing but a wolf in sheep's clothing."

The British National Party is fielding Mr Killen in the forthcoming local elections on May 3, while its leader Nick Griffin represents the borough in the European Parliament as a Northwest MEP.