By Ian Dunt

The Electoral Commission is launching an investigation into the British National party (BNP) accounts.

The independent party finance watchdog began looking into the adequacy of the far-right party's2008 statement of accounts at the start of this year, but the case has now become an investigation.

"It is important to note - particularly during an election period - that no conclusion has been reached and therefore no assumption should be made as to whether a breach of the rules has occurred," an Electoral Commission spokesperson said.

The investigation was just the latest trouble to beset the beleaguered extremist party. It was recently forced to adapt its whites-only membership policy while facing legal action from the Equality and Human Rights Commission.