A FAMILY detained after their asylum application was thrown out would be killed if they were deported, a relative claimed today.

Patrick Samuels was speaking after police and immigration officials swooped on the family home of Nigel, 52, and Pearl Karim, 44, in Barkerhouse Road, Nelson.

The couple and their children Crystal, 13, and Calvin, 11, were taken away following the incident at 7.30am yesterday.

Today they were at Yarlswood detention centre, near Luton, Bedfordshire, where they could de deported back to Pakistan within 72 hours.

Last night hundreds of parishioners, teachers and school friends staged a candle-lit vigil for the popular family.

And pupils from Calvin's and Crystal's schools - Holy Saviour Primary School in Nelson and Fisher-More High School in Colne - are taking their fight to the top by calling for help from new Home Secretary John Reid.

Mr Samuels, 37, the brother of Pearl, said the family claimed religious asylum four years ago after Mr Karim had received threats after choosing to convert to Christianity.

He added the couple who in Pakistan worked as a security firm manager and a teacher, had their first bid for asylum rejected two and a half years ago but re-applied on July 26 last year sending their application to the Home Office by recorded delivery which he claimed had got lost in the system.

Mr Samuels said: "There are not economic migrants. They came here because their lives were being threatened.

"According to immigration officials Pakistan is deemed to be a safe country. The question is who is it safe for?

"If they go back their lives will be under threat.

"It's okay not knowing but how can you go back to the country and be stuck there knowing that.

"We feel so strongly about this. There are criminals and terrorists who have been granted leave. But these are people who are genuine asylum seekers who have been persecuted in their country and in this one."

Mr Samuels and his wife Sheila, 35, who are both training to be Christian ministers in Sheffield have launched a campaign to let the family remain in the UK.

They are also seeking legal advice to see if a judicial review can be launched.

Yesterday's swoop came as the children were getting ready for school.

Calvin was due to sit a school examination, but his desk remained empty as classmates completed the SATS test.

Class teacher Tricia Bedford said: "We didn't tell the other children what had happened until after the test, they were absolutely devastated.

"Calvin was keen to be involved in everything and is a big part of this school, many of his friends were in tears."

The family arrived in England from Pakistan four years ago and lived with Mrs Karim's parents, Fred and Shakuntla Samuels.

The family could not work but would help out in the community and survived on money from the National Asylum Support Service.

Last night Father Christopher Gorton, parish priest at Holy Saviour RC church, Nelson, led the candle-lit vigil for supporters who packed into the church hall.

He said: "The Karims are a super family and played a big part in the life of the church, we will do everything we can to help them.

"They are a genuine family with a genuine fear for their own safety if they are forced to return to Parkistan.

"Although they weren't allowed to work in this country Pearl helped out at the school and was a voluntary worker for the British Heart Foundation.

"They desperately wanted to work and were determined to contribute to society in this country and this is how they are treated."

A spokeswoman for the Home Office said she could not comment on individual cases.