FOREIGN Secretary Jack Straw today told how he intervened to prevent Blackburn Rovers star Brett Emerton's wife being deported.

But the Blackburn MP said he would do the same for any constituent -- even if they were married to a Burnley player!

The Foreign Secretary had to step in at the last moment to stop Sarah Emerton from being sent back to France from Waterloo Station when she arrived on the Eurostar train to meet friends.

He was contacted by the Ewood Park club, where he is a regular supporter, when they learned that the wife of their new Australian signing was at risk of being told to go back to the Continent because she did not have the right visa.

Her husband, 24, has a work permit to stay in Britain following his transfer from the Dutch club Feyenoord, but was on international duty with the Australian team in Ireland when the incident took place.

Mr Straw assured officials Mrs Emerton was entitled to be in the country and she was granted exceptional leave until the matter could be resolved.

Mr Straw then wrote to the assistant director of the UK Immigration Service at Waterloo, Roger Cockerel, saying: "I am very grateful to you for agreeing exceptional leave in respect of Sarah Emerton."

This led to Tory Foreign Affairs spokesman Michael Ancram claiming that Mr Straw had been asking for 'special treatment' for the footballer's wife.

One Home Office source said this was the third time in a month Mrs Emerton had had problems -- the other two took place at Manchester Airport.

The couple are currently living in Manchester and, at Waterloo, Mrs Emerton was initially told to go back to France and apply for a visa in Holland.

Mr Straw said: "I intervene in many cases like this on behalf of constituents -- not all of them of Asian origin. Obviously if it gets to me these things quite often are at the very last stage. I wasn't doing it as Foreign Secretary but as MP for Blackburn.

"I would do it on behalf of anyone who lived or worked in the town. I was contacted by Blackburn Rovers, who are obviously a major part of the community.

"I would have done the same for any woman who was a constituent of mine -- even if her husband played for Burnley."

Rovers chief executive John Williams, said: "As far as I know, she did have the right paperwork but she had problems trying to convince the relevant authorities. However, it has all been sorted out.

"I'd like to thank Jack for stepping in. We are very grateful for the help he gave us. It's a traumatic experience but, thankfully, the situation has now been resolved."

A Home Office spokesman said: "Discretion can be exercised when it is clear that criteria for entry have been made."