The far-right group Britain First yesterday encouraged its followers to boycott the Daily Mail and The Sun after it was accused of using actress Lynda Bellingham's death to boost support.

The party has threatened to launch "direct action" on the journalists after they said that the group used the cancer victim's death as a way to gain more attention on social media.

Britain First posted a photograph to their Facebook subscribers of Mrs Bellingham with co-star Christopher Timothy, above the caption: "RIP actress Lynda Bellingham. Britain First", which garnered more than 6,000 'likes' and 500 shares.

The Sun splashed their front page with the headline 'fascists hijack tragic Lynda' while web edition of Daily Mail, MailOnline, posted an online story titled: 'Splinter group of the BNP uses photo to trick people into visiting page that supports fascist views'.

Lynda Bellingham: Life in pictures Show all 15 1 /15 Lynda Bellingham: Life in pictures Lynda Bellingham: Life in pictures Lynda Bellingham Lynda Bellingham poses holding her medal after being invested as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) during a ceremony at Buckingham Palace in central London on 14 March 2014 Lynda Bellingham: Life in pictures Lynda Bellingham Lynda Bellingham with (left to right) sons Michael and Robert, husband Michael and step-son Bradley arrive at Buckingham Palace in central London for an Investiture Ceremony where she received an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) on 14 March 2014 in London Lynda Bellingham: Life in pictures Lynda Bellingham Lynda Bellingham and Michael Pattemore attend the BAFTA Television Craft Awards at The Brewery on 27 April 2014 in London Lynda Bellingham: Life in pictures Lynda Bellingham Lynda Bellingham attends The Laurence Olivier Awards at the Royal Opera House on 28 April 2013 in London Lynda Bellingham: Life in pictures Lynda Bellingham (L-R) Carol McGiffin, Lynda Bellingham, Denise Welch, Kate Thornton, Leslie Garrett and Andrea McLean on 20 January 2010 Lynda Bellingham: Life in pictures Lynda Bellingham Lynda Bellingham and her dance partner Darren Bennett on 2009 Strictly Come Dancing Lynda Bellingham: Life in pictures Lynda Bellingham (L-R) Amy Lame, Diana Moran, Ruth Lorenzo, Laila Morse and Lynda Bellingham launch the 'If I can do it...' Cancer Research Race for Life campaign on 2 March 2009 in London Lynda Bellingham: Life in pictures Lynda Bellingham 'Loose Women' Presenters (L-R) Sherrie Hewson, Coleen Nolan, Carol McGriffin, Jackie Brambles, Lynda Bellingham and Jane McDonld arrive for the TV Quick & TV Choice awards at the Dorchester Hotel on 3 September 2007 in London Lynda Bellingham: Life in pictures Lynda Bellingham Britain's Queen Elizabeth II chats to guests at the ITV 50th Anniversary celebration, including (R - L) Nicholas Parsons, Lynda Bellingham and Harry Hill on 13 October 2005 in London Lynda Bellingham: Life in pictures Lynda Bellingham (L to R) Actors Dame Diana Rigg, Robert Bathurst, Zoe Wanamaker, Stephen Fry, Jane Asher and Lynda Bellingham attend the Stars Shine For Autism Christmas Concert on 2 December 2003 in London Lynda Bellingham: Life in pictures Lynda Bellingham Nickolas Grace and Lynda Bellingham on 24 February 1999 Lynda Bellingham: Life in pictures Lynda Bellingham Lynda Bellingham with her sons in 1991 Lynda Bellingham: Life in pictures Lynda Bellingham A scene during rehearsal for an Oxo TV advertisment which was screened in 1987, with Lynda Bellingham and her on-screen husband, Michael Redfern Lynda Bellingham: Life in pictures Lynda Bellingham Film producer Greg Smith (left) with his bride actress Lynda Bellingham after their marriage, accompanied by the best man actor Robin Askwith, on 7 November 1975 Lynda Bellingham: Life in pictures Lynda Bellingham Actress Lynda Bellingham on 4 October 1972

Mrs Bellingham, who famously starred in Oxo adverts and was a panellist on television chat show Loose Women, died last Sunday aged 66 from colon cancer after she announced she was stopping treatment for the disease.

However, Britain First also accused both papers of using Mrs Bellingham as a way of "spreading lies about a political party".

The photograph of Lynda Bellingham with Christopher Timothy that Britain First used

The party states on their website: "We rigorously enforce a 'one strike and out' policy with regard to journalists – if any journalists resorts to lies, distortions and unfounded allegations, we never deal with that individual again.

"With Britain First, 'reasonable' coverage from journalists can lead to advance notice of campaign actions, events and exclusive access."

In retaliation, The Sun has urged its readers to boycott the group's controversial Facebook posts.

They told The Huffington Post UK: "The Sun stands by its story today which we feel is a rigorous expose of an organisation promoting extremist views."

The Facebook group has almost 500,000 'likes', which makes it the most popular political party on the social network with 400,000 more followers than the Lib Dems, 300,000 more than Labour and 200,000 more than the Conservative party.

On their website, Britain First claims that its anti-immigration and eurosceptic views are "seen consistently by around 40 million people around the world, 23 million of those in the UK."

The former English Defence League leader, Tommy Robinson, had said that Britain First was primarily a "business" with the party selling merchandise during rallies and protests including a £30 hooded jumper and £19.95 polo shirt emblazoned with the Union Jack crest logo.