A FATHER-of-three who has made the decision to keep his family in war-torn Lebanon says it is his duty to stay.

Mike Bramley, from Great Harwood, has been working in Beirut for over four years.

He lives in the Achrafieh-Sassine area of the city with his Lebanese wife Adele, 29, their son George, three, and their two 13-month-old twin daughters, Leslie and Sarah.

But he wants to stay and help rebuild the country when the conflict is over.

Although the family are out of the main war zone they are still feeling the effects of the bombing. Mike, 39, said: "We can hear the bombs going off and they shake the windows when they explode. My youngest two don't know what is going on but my son will often run and duck for cover when there is a really big bang I have just been telling him it is fireworks."

However, the family have decided to stay where they are.

Mike, a former pupil at Norden High School, Rishton, added: "We are just making the best of the situation and trying to live a normal life."

The couple even held a birthday party for George on Sunday, with 20 guests.

Mike continued: "I did deliberate about if we should go, but there are a lot of Brits staying behind so we are not on our own. A lot of expats that have come here feel they should stay to help the country get back on track when this is all over."

Part of Mike's decision to stay has been influenced by his job as a service manager at Saad and Trad car dealers. He said: "The company has been very good to me it wouldn't be fair to come out here, get a good salary and then leave them in the lurch when things start to go pear-shaped. I won't say people are wrong for leaving but if you come over here to work you know what risks you are taking. My dad was in the navy during World War II and I think he would be proud of me for staying."

Mike's mum Leslie, of Albert Street, Great Harwood, said she doesn't dwell on the danger her son may be in.

She added: "At first I worried but I have accepted it now.

"I understand his decision to stay. When you have a wife and three young children, trying to dash away at the last minute is a hard thing to do.

"If he did come home he would probably drive me crackers after a while anyway!"