A BRITISH National Party member hit an anti-fascist protester around the head with a camera tripod as the two sides clashed in Liverpool city centre, a court was told.

Peter Tierney, 52, denies striking campaigner Nick Barnett, saying it was “an accident”.

Tierney stood trial at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday after denying a charge of assault causing actual bodily harm.

John Dixon, prosecuting, told the court how on St George’s Day, Thursday April 23 last year, the BNP were handing out leaflets in Liverpool city centre.

He said an “informal political movement” calling itself the Merseyside Coalition Against Racism and Fascism – of which Mr Barnett is a member – heard about the campaigning and headed into the city to hand out their own leaflets.

The court heard the two sides clashed verbally in St John’s Gardens, behind St George’s Hall.

Mr Barnett, 30, said his group was shouting “Nazi scum” at the BNP, who shouted back: “Get a wash, get a job.”

He said the BNP were moving toward the front of St George’s Hall and he went to run past them so he could hand out his leaflets first.