A FAMILY of asylum seekers taken into custody for deportation returned to Nelson last night to the delight of the local community.

Nigel Karim, his wife Pearl and children Crystal, 13, and Calvin,11, were overcome with emotion as hundreds of family and friends packed a church hall to welcome them back.

At 7.30am on Wednesday armed police and immigration officials swooped on their home in Barkerhouse Road, Nelson, and told them their bid for asylum had been rejected.

They were given a few minutes to pack their belongings before being taken to the Yarlswood detention centre near Luton.

But the Karims were released yesterday after being given more time to prepare a second bid for asylum.

The Karims claim that if they were deported they would be killed by people unhappy Mr Karim had converted to Christianity.

Family and friends called an emergency meeting in Holy Saviour Church Hall on Wednesday evening to fight their deportation.

They bombarded Pendle MP Gordon Prentice with calls, pleading with him to help.

Today Mr Prentice "I have made a huge number of representations on their behalf and the process has been extended.

"We will have to see how we can try and turn things around."

Mrs Karim, a devout Christian from Pakistan, said the first they knew of the deportation order was when the doorbell sounded.

She said: "It was too early for visitors and when I looked out of a window at the back of the house I saw two people in uniform. I thought They've come'.

"The children were devastated, Calvin was getting ready for a SATS test at Holy Saviour School and Crystal also had an exam.

"The look on their faces was terrible, it would have melted anybody's heart.

"I didn't think we would be held long, and was sure we would not be getting on that plane. I only packed one pair of jeans and a blouse."

The family spent a sleepless night at the detention centre and were allowed to go free yesterday afternoon.

They were driven back to Lancashire by members of the family.

But despite their happiness at being allowed to leave, Mrs Karim, said her thoughts were with those still held at the centre.

She added: "The staff and accommodation were good and the food was alright, but you are not free.

"Some of the people have been there for three months with young families and they should not be held like that.

"Until you have experienced it you cannot understand just what it is like.

"Our release has been a miracle, but everyone in there has their own faith and their own god, but many don't have the amount of support that we have had from the people of Nelson, we must all try to help them."

At Holy Saviour School pupils were in the playground when the news came through.

Headteacher Alix Lubomski said: "We rang the school bell and everyone stopped, when we told them Clavin and his family would be coming back there was a huge cheer."

A Home Office spokesman refused to comment on the Karim's case but said: "As part of a robust immigration policy we will seek to remove anybody who has no right to be in the country and has exhausted the appeal process."