HUNDREDS of campaigners from Blackburn Cathedral have signed a petition calling for an asylum seeker to be allowed to stay in England.

But the town’s MP Jack Straw, who has reviewed the case file, issued a blow to Zakariah Isingoma's case after revealing they were ‘very serious doubts about his credibility’.

Mr Isingoma has become a familiar face at the Cathedral, volunteering in its cafe and working with other asylum seekers.

He claims he has been forced to flee his homeland after being tortured in a notorious jail and branded a traitor by the Ugandan authorities.

Mr Isingoma believes he will be charged with treason, a crime which carries the death penalty, if returned to Uganda.

But the Home Office has rejected his initial claim for asylum, meaning he will be deported if an appeal fails.

And Mr Straw, who has met Mr Isingoma and cathedral members who are fighting his case, said: “Having read the very detailed judgement in the case, I am afraid that I can see no prospect whatsoever of Mr Isingoma being able to stay in this country, and he failed to get anywhere near the test for establishing asylum.

“The judge had some very serious doubts about his credibility.”

The 43-year-old is a regular at Sunday morning service, leads prayers for asylum seekers in their native languages, and has taken part in a musical play at the Cathedral.

More than 200 cathedral members have signed the petition appealing to the UK Borders Agency to allow him to stay.

Mr Isingoma, who was sent to Blackburn by immigration officials in January 2008, claims he was tortured into signing a confession, leading to a spell in the notorious Luzara prison in Uganda.

He says had been a successful businessman in his home country, but had been mistakenly labelled a government rebel after being spotted making business trips to the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.

After being arrested he claims he was tortured in prison and had to make an escape wearing the uniform of a guard.

Mr Isingoma, who has a wife and nine children in Uganda, said he had been overwhelmed by the support, but left terrified at the prospect of deportation.

He said: “It is terrible. I fear for my life. I would definitely be killed if I returned.”

Canon Michael Wedgeworth, an assistant priest at the cathedral, said: “Lots of people here have really taken him to their hearts.

“But when people hear about his story they all feel horrified about the prospect of him being forced to return to probable death.”

Canon Chris Chivers, who has worked in Africa, said: “There are lots of people in the cathedral who are very concerned.”

The Home Office would not comment on Mr Isingoma’s case as it is ongoing.