CAMPAIGNERS who are fighting for a well-respected family of asylum seekers to be returned to Blackburn have been given new hope.

A deported Thai man has been given permission to return to his Shetland home after 8,000 islanders signed a petition demanding he was allowed back.

While the case is different to that of Illia Davydov, his wife and three children, who lived in Cockridge Close, Livesey, Blackburn, campaigners believe the same core principle applies.

Now friends of the Davydovs, who have enlisted the support of teachers, a police boss and church figures, are planning to step up their fight in a bid to put more pressure on the Home Office.

They hope that if they can match the massive levels of support seen in the Shetlands, then they could bring back the Davydovs.

Sakchai Makao was deported from the Shetlands after being caught up in the furore over foreign prisoners who had been released from jail without being considered for deportation.

Mr Makao moved to the islands when he was 10.

Four years ago he was jailed for eight months after a "moment of madness" following the death of his stepfather when he carried out an arson attack. But, after the foreign prisoner scandal, Mr Makao was deported, despite having returned to a law-abiding life in the Shetlands.

However, after one-in-three islanders signed the petition saying he was a "soft target" for the government, the decision was overturned and he was allowed "home".

Lynn Wilding, a classroom support assistant who taught two of the Davydov boys at St Aidan's Primary School, Mill Hill, said the case had given them hope.

She added: "We have 250 names on our petition now and we will have to see what we can do to get 8,000 names.

"We will not give in."

The Davydovs were deported last month after a dawn swoop on their Blackburn home by immigration officials.

They were taken to a detention centre without time to collect their belongings, before being deported to Jerusalem four days later.

It is believed the family did not know they were being sent back until they were taken to the airport.

Mr Davydov and wife Galina, both 38, and children Illia junior, 14, Daniel, 10, and Brian, nine, arrived in England last October.

The family claimed asylum because they said they were being persecuted in Israel due to their Christianity.

They moved there 14 years ago from Russia.

During their time in England they became an important part of the Mill Hill and Livesey communities, earning the respect of residents.

Teachers, church officials, a police boss, and friends, have said they were a "lovely" family who enriched the local community.