A retired Croydon couple said they were "shocked and angry" when their MP suggested they should vote for the BNP.

Croydon Central MP Andrew Pelling wrote to Alfred and Angela Litten after they asked him to sign an early day motion against Israel forming closer ties with the EU.

After telling Mr Pelling they may not vote for him in the future the MP wrote back: "It will be a pleasure to have you both not voting for me - why don't you go and vote for the BNP?"

Mr Litten, 62, said: "We were both upset when we got his reply because it implies we are BNP supporters, which we certainly are not. I like him as an MP and although I normally vote Liberal I was considering voting for him in the future, but that won't be happening now."

Originally the couple wrote asking Mr Pelling to sign a motion which urged the Government not to upgrade Israeli relations with the EU.

In his first reply Mr Pelling said he agreed with the Palestinian cause but felt the motion would not help.

Mr Litten wrote back and said Palestinians "would be looking for any support possible."

Speaking about his outburst Mr Pelling told the Croydon Guardian: "Unlike other MPs I prefer to be straightforward with my constituents. If they want to dish it out, they ought to be able to take it when it is dished back.

"The remark about the BNP was meant to be disparaging, I certainly don't believe people should vote for them."

In a final email response to Mr Pelling Mrs Litten said: "I suppose you will accept our view that supporting the local Conservative candidate at the next election would be just too trivial for us to bother with."