A FORMER East Lancashire cricket professional who is facing deportation has collected over 1,000 signatures in a petition backing his bid to stay in the UK.

Former West Indies cricketer Hartley Alleyne, who used to play for both Colne and Haslingden, is fighting to stay in the country after the Home Office twice refused to grant him a work permit.

He is due to have a review date for his case by February 2008, when the petition will be presented as evidence.

Mr Alleyne, 50, has lived in the UK for the last 29 years and played as a professional cricketer at Haslingden from 1983 to 1986 and at Colne from 1990 to 1991.

Since then he has been working at schools coaching the sport but was told in May that he might be deported because he is not qualified.

He had been working at St Edmund's school, Canterbury, for two years but the Home Office has turned down his request for a work permit because he does not have an NVQ Level 3.

Mr Alleyne said: "I was totally shocked when I heard that my work permit application had been turned down a second time. It is now under review. Obviously, I am extremely hopeful for a favourable outcome.

"An NVQ cannot produce what I have gained from cricket over the years internationally and locally. I hope that the people who make the decision will allow me to stay in England and help youngsters and be with my family.

"I sent my petition on December 4 and am expecting to get a review date for my case sometime before February.

"Colne, Haslingden and Todmorden cricket days have left me with very fond memories and am delighted to have received so many letters and emails of support from former players and supporters.

"A story that springs to mind remembering those days was how blatantly the opposition used to try to get me a bit tiddly before a match so that I wouldn't bowl so fast to them when they were batting!

"Come to think of it, some of my most enjoyable times in cricket, were spent playing in the Lancashire League."

Both his former clubs have written letters of support to the Professional Cricketers Association.