THE councillor at the centre of the row over the library's ban on religious posters has spoken of her terror after being targeted by racists and religious fanatics.

Cllr Margaret Dewar, the Beaconsfeld county councillor responsible for libraries, has received abuse on email after news of the ban of a Christian poster at Wycombe Library was highlighted on a right-wing website after stories in the national media.

Her critics responded to the story with accusations that Cllr Dewar was anti-Christian and pro-Muslim.

The 65-year-old mother-of-ten has now had hundreds of abusive emails, phone calls and letters some with racist content. Messages full of hate also came disguised as Christmas cards.

Cllr Dewar told Midweek that for the first time in 40 years she was too scared to attend midnight mass and added she could not bear to put up any of her genuine Christmas cards.

Buckinghamshire County Council's library staff have also been abused and threatened. The police have been called in.

More than half the hate-mail flooded in after Cllr Dewar's email address was posted on the web site of the British National Party.

The BNP has said it will put up its own candidate at the next council election to challenge Cllr Dewar and claimed the Tory had given preference to a Muslim group over Christians.

Writing on its official website the BNP added: "In the new multi-cultural Britain there is room for all faiths except those of British and Christian origin."

A distraught Cllr Dewar told Midweek: "I don't want to leave my home.

"I am scared of the repercussions.

"You can't imagine what it has been like. I can't believe this has happened to me. I have had threats. I had letters telling me not to go to church. I have never had anything like this in my whole life.

"I have had the most horrendous email, even from vicars. I cannot tell you what this has done to me."

One card had a picture of the Madonna and child, but said inside: "I hope this card offends you".

Another email called her "bitch" while an Eid card from abroad praised Cllr Dewar's actions against the "infidel religion of the Christian dogs" and promised a Muslim state in Britain.

Her nightmare began when High Wycombe Library refused to put up a poster advertising a service of lessons and carols at All Saints Parish Church, High Wycombe.

This story was first carried in the Bucks Free Press and Midweek.

Newspapers later revealed that this had been at about the same time that a Muslim children's party had been held in the library to celebrate Eid.

But the library also carried Christmas events in November and December, which the reports failed to mention.

The ban on posters applies to all faiths and to posters of a sexual and political nature. The ban was agreed in 1983, and reviewed 1991 after a Bucks library refused to display a gay poster. The subject was debated and agreed by the council.

There have been no other complaints, until now.

There will now be another review but any decision will be Cllr Dewar's as the responsible cabinet member. Discussions will be in private and there will be no debate in full council.

Today Cllr Dewar and her policy advisory group of six will discuss the ban and its implications in light of the 1998 Human Rights Act.

Next week the leader's advisory group will also discuss it. The Conservative group will discuss it on January 20.

But a motion which would have meant a debate at the full council meeting on January 22, has been withdrawn. Cllr Dewar thinks the policy would have to change.

All Saints Church banned Working for Wildlife from holding a table top sale outside the church because of its links with the League Against Cruel Sports - which the church said was too political.

Working for Wildlife Judy Gilbert said: "The same church which rejected Working for Wildlife's sale is complaining it can't advertise a religious event in its local library. Hypocrisy or poetic justice?"