CAMPAIGNERS took part in a town centre march to support the plight of an asylum seeking family who face being thrown out of Bolton on Wednesday.

Coronation Street's Julie Hesmondhalgh joined a crowd of 60 supporters who were backing the Sukula family's fight to stay in the town.

They have lived in Great Lever for the past six years following their escape from the Democratic Republic of Congo, but have been told they must move to Liverpool on Wednesday.

Demonstrators met at the town hall steps on Saturday, before marching around the town chanting: "Sukula family must stay, forced move no way."

The National Asylum Support Service (NASS), which allocated the Sukulas their three-bedroomed home in Great Lever, claim the property is overcrowded and unsuitable for them.

Kiala and Nigiedi Sukula now have seven children - Flores, aged 19, Daniel, aged 16, Destin, aged seven, Sarah, aged five, Exhauce, aged three, Benedicte, aged one, and baby girl Miracle.

The decision has been made even though Miracle Sukula, who was born in November three-and-a-half months prematurely, is still in the Royal Bolton Hospital, and the rest of the Sukula children are educated at local schools.

Now the family's legal team, Bury Law Centre, has launched an appeal against the decision.

Mrs Hesmondhalgh, who plays Corrie's Hayley Cropper, said: "I know one of Daniel's teachers and I've heard what the Sukulas have been through. Moving them to Liverpool when baby Miracle is in hospital is wrong "The kids are thriving in Bolton, doing well at school, Flores wants to be a midwife and has just got a university place in Manchester. These people are contributing to the community and should be allowed to stay."

Flores said: "The house we are in isn't really suitable, but we would prefer to stay in it until an alternative arrangement in Bolton can be made."

The eviction fight is the latest battle for the family. They have already had their application for refugee status refused by the Government, and now live off charitable donations.

A campaign, backed by The Bolton News, was launched to persuade the Home Office to grant the family the right to stay in this country and the Home Office has agreed to re-examine the case.