There was panic at the centre of the British National Party tonight after it emerged that its entire membership list had been published on the internet.

The names, addresses and telephone numbers of more than 10,000 current and former members were published on a specially created web page.

Along with the names and personal details, the professions of many of the members have been made public including teachers, scientists, a government employee and at least one serving police officer.

One police woman on the list, whose entry included a note asking for discretion, faces potential dismissal since officers are proscribed from joining the right-wing political party.

The Association of Chief Police Officers ruled four years ago that officers would be investigated and face losing their posts if they joined bodies which conflicted with the force's duty to promote race equality.

Simon Darby, the BNP's spokesman, claimed that a disgruntled former member of the party was most likely to be behind the leak. The party succeeded in winning a High Court injunction against a former member preventing them from publishing the material in April.

Mr Darby warned that whoever had published it had made a serious mistake. “If we find out the name of the person who published this list it will turn out to be one of the most foolish things they have done in their life,” he said.

“I wouldn’t want to have done that – I wouldn’t be sleeping very well tonight. We are worried because children’s names are on the list.

“No true nationalist would have put the lives and livelihoods of fellow nationalists at risk.”

Mr Darby said the BNP had contacted the owner of the website which has been hosting the list since Sunday demanding that they take the personal information down, although he conceded: "Once it's out, it's out."

A similar leak of BNP members occurred last year exposing Simone Clarke, a prominent ballerina, as a member of the party. Her details including home address and private e-mail address were published in the latest leak.

Rank and file party members were also distressed tonight fearing that their details were now also in the public domain.

The forums of far-right blogs and websites were humming with concerned and furious users. One anonymous poster wrote: “I could lose my job. I'm bloody angry.”

Another on the NorthWestNationalists blog blamed Nick Griffin, the party leader, for the security violation: “If Griffin cannot keep the memberships secure he should resign.”

Amongst teachers and prison officers who specifically asked for discretion on the published list were a host of far more unusual professionals including people described as Christian lay preachers, retired historians, driving instructors and psychic healers.

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