A BLACK man from Redditch says bigotry, prejudice and intolerance have forced him to leave his home of more than 60 years.

Eddie Smith, who is of mixed race, and his wife Gail, who is white, say they have seen attitudes change dramatically, even among people they considered friends, and he believes the change may have been brought about by the BNP, which has a member on Redditch Council.

The couple have already left their Sedgley Close home and are now living in temporary accommodation until they can finally make the move to Bewdley.

Mr Smith, 61, was born in Redditch to mixed race parents and then adopted into one of the town's largest families.

He was one of the first black residents in Redditch and says he and Gail realised attitudes had changed following a minor racial assault he suffered last summer.

After much deliberation, they took the decision to leave the town they love.

He said: "Try to imagine being in a long-term relationship and gradually realising the person you're with has changed so much that you conclude if you don't get out you could easily end up hating the person you once loved.

"You'd want to leave so you could retain happy memories and not end up resentful because you stayed.

"Years ago I could stop in the street and have a conversation with someone I knew but now it's like some people just don't want to be seen talking to me.

"As a black man who was brought up with white friends and family, I have seen race issues from both sides."

Mr Smith is a former carnival committee member and judge. He teamed up with the Advertiser to organise the town's biggest ever quiz night and was a governor at two schools.

He believes the bigotry he has experienced has been bred by people's disillusion over how the government deals with immigration control, failed border security, the "insanity" of political correctness and badly mismanaged human rights protocol.

"No wonder the BNP is having its greatest recruitment ever and changing the views of many decent people," he said.

"I love this town and want to take my happy memories with me," he added.

"I'd like to say goodbye to family and friends and wish the town happiness and prosperity for the future."