A FAMILY who sought sanctuary in Bolton after fleeing a war torn country have won their fight to remain in the town - for now.

Supporters of the family have managed to overturn a decision to evict the Sukula family from their home in Great Lever and relocate them to Liverpool.

The U-turn by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) follows a 100-strong protest by supporters of the family, including Coronation Street star Julie Hesmondhalgh who plays Hayley Cropper, in Bolton Town Centre on Saturday.

A leading supporter of the family Neil McAllister said: "If it was not for the protest, the letter writing campaign and others contacting their MPs, there is no doubt that the family would have been moved. But because of the public outcry, the Home Office realised how politically damaging it would be to move the family."

The family - father Kiala Sukula, mother Nigiedi and children Flores, aged 19, Daniel, aged 16, Destin, aged seven, and Sarah, aged five - fled to the UK from the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2001.

Since arriving in Britain, the couple have had three more children: Exhauce, aged three, Benedicte, aged one, and baby girl Miracle.

During that time, they have tried to persuade the government to allow them to stay but their application for asylum has been refused.

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. The Home Office has agreed to re-examine the case.

Had the forced removal gone ahead it would have meant the youngest children, including one who had special educational needs, being taken out of school where they are settled and the mother being taken miles away from Miracle who is still in hospital after being born in November, three-and-half-months early.

Mr McAllister, who is vice-chairman of the campaign, said: "We understood that one of the reasons why the family is not being moved is because of Miracle. There is no guarantee that NASS will not attempt to relocate the family again three months down the line."

Now campaigners say they are determined to increase the pressure on the Home Office to grant the family the right to stay in the UK.

Mr McAllister said: "This latest fight shows how much support there is for the family in Bolton. This has re-energised our campaign and we are now demanding that this family stop being tormented. They have been through so much already and have had enough. They should now be given permission to stay in this country."

(Since the article was published Destin is now known as Destino)