HOMES in Carlisle have been targeted by a 'toxic' leafleting campaign by Patriotic Alternative, a far-right group. 

Mark Collett, founder of the group, was the focus of a Channel 4 documentary on the youth wing of the British National Party previously - Young, Nazi and Proud. 

The group have recently attempted to capitalise on local opposition to asylum seekers being housed by demonstrating outside in towns throughout the UK, as seen in Erskine and in Skegness, Lincolnshire. 

One Carlisle resident who received the leaflet through her front door said: "We have people of other races living on our street as well who cause no trouble whatsoever, and I find it offensive that these racists would target my area with this kind of nonsense thinking that we're the kind of people who would agree with them."

In response to the leafleting, community organisations Carlisle Refugee Action Group, Anti Racist Cumbria, Carlisle One World Centre, Cumbria Development Education Centre and Penrith & Eden Refugee Network, have united behind a statement shared by a local community volunteer at Carlisle Refugee Action Group.

His statement said these groups 'have no place on the streets of Carlisle'. 

"Last week Carlisle streets experienced a toxic attack by the far-right group Patriotic Alternative.

"Individuals attached to this organisation have been spreading vitriol and hatred with leaflets posted into our city’s homes.

"They launched a blanket assault on people of overseas origin and especially people who aren’t white.

"They conveniently forget the people they attack are people who work across the nation supporting everything from the NHS to public transport, fruit picking to hospitality.

"People who look after the sick and care for the elderly, people who create wealth, pay taxes and strengthen the economy. People who enrich society and culture with art, food and music. People who help broaden our understanding of the world and raise us up beyond simple-minded prejudices and ignorance.

"People who are people.

"The white supremacist poison this organisation is trying to spread has no place on the streets of Carlisle nor any other part of Britain. Their attempts to blame our country’s ills (even traffic jams!) on people who aren’t white shows the contempt and hatred they have for us all as they try to treat us like fools.

"We believe Carlisle, Cumbria, in fact Britain knows better.

"Solidarity against racism and for a fair and brighter future for us all.”

You can read the statement in full on Anti-Racist Cumbria.