A PROTEST at the deportation of a family of failed asylum seekers is taking place today.

Supporters of the Ndombassi family say their forced removal to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was illegal because they were not given 72 hours notice of their deportation.

They were taken from their home in Bolton on July 20 and it is now feared that the family has gone into hiding in the DRC.

The protest march is being supported by the Bolton branch of the National Union of Teachers and the Sukula Family Must Stay Campaign.

The Sukula family, which is settled in Great Lever after fleeing the DRC, is also living in fear of being sent back to the war-torn country.

Jason Travis, from the Sukula Family Must Stay Campaign, said: "It is really important that people come out to support this demo against an illegal deportation.

"If proper procedures had been followed we are confident that the deportation could have been stopped legally. Bolton people united before to help the Sukula family - we must not let the Home Office get away with this clear abuse of procedure. Please come to the demo."

The demonstration took place in Platt Fields, Manchester, from noon.