The BBC has been accused of inflaming racial tensions by trying to recruit members of the far right English Defence League to appear on last week’s edition of Question Time which was broadcast from a Lincolnshire town with a high proportion of immigrants.

A producer posted a message on the EDL’s social media page asking members to apply to join the audience for the programme which was broadcast from Boston.

The timing of the programme was already sensitive locally as the EDL was planning a march through the town on Saturday just 48 hours later.

Matt Warman, the area’s local MP, last night wrote to the BBC’s director general Lord Hall of Birkenhead demanding an explanation.

In the message an audience producer at Question Time posted a message on the EDL’s facebook page pointing out that the programme would be broadcasting in Boston and advising readers on how to apply for tickets for the audience.

Mr Warman said the timing was insensitive as the EDL held a march in the town on Saturday, just two days after BBC Question Time.

He said: “It was a charged period in which to take this approach to one specific group but not to any other to my knowledge.”