THE Home Office has put the deportation of a family six Kurds from Blackburn on temporary hold.

No action will be taken to remove Soran Mohammad, his wife Wazira and their four children aged between two and 10 while officials consider new evidence from the town’s MP Kate Hollern.

He fears his life could be in danger from human traffickers who smuggled him into the UK if the family is sent back to Italy where they were spotted by police.

He also fears for his safety at the hands of the authorities in his native Iran, who accuse him of anti-government activity and smuggling banned alcohol, if he is returned there.

Mrs Mohammed, 39, has suffered stress-related illness since the family was ordered to board a flight to Italy earlier this week and refused. She spent a night in the Royal Blackburn Hospital and is now under her GP’s care.

The family is supported by Donna Simpson, head of Wensley Fold Church of England Primary Academy, attended by the two elder children - Sumaya,10, and Sariya, nine.

Mrs Hollern said: “This is clearly a very distressing situation.

“I am particularly worried for the children, who have settled well.

“I am pleased the Home Office has agreed to suspend any removal action and I am urging them to give full consideration of the information provided and ensure that the welfare of this family is protected.”

Mr Mohammad said: “We are pleased and relieved that any deportation has been out on hold but we are very fearful it may still happen. We would like to thank the Lancashire Telegraph and Kate Hollern MP for taking up the case and achieving this.”

Mrs Simpson said yesterday: “We are thrilled that the deportation is on hold while the case is investigated. The girls were very happy when they came into school.”

The Mohammad’s have two sons: Binar, three, and Danar, two.

The two girls have been in tears at school and begged their teachers to hide them.

They fled the lawless Iran/Iraq border region in August after a friend of Mr Mohammad implicated him in anti-government activity, and were smuggled through Turkey and across Europe to the UK.

Mr Mohammad denies any political involvement but admits importing strictly forbidden alcohol, illegal cigarettes and banned satellite TV equipment.