Malawi family must leave Britain

The Kachepa family say a prayer with supporters at their home

A mother and her four children facing deportation to Malawi have lost their battle to stay in the UK.

An attempt to deport the Kachepa family - who have lived in Weymouth, Dorset for the last five years - failed after officials forgot their passports.

But on Tuesday, the Home Office told their MP Jim Knight "there were no new grounds" to keep them in the country and they must leave in two days.

Family friend Ralph Johnson said their lawyer would go for a judicial inquiry.

He said: "We believe it is a total travesty of justice.

"We don't believe that the minister has listened to the evidence that was given to him clearly stating that they are in danger if they go back both physically and psychologically.

"There is medical evidence and a expert witness report which appears to have been totally ignored.

"We can still go for a judicial inquiry and our lawyers are preparing a case even now for the High Court to try and prevent the deportation that's set for Thursday."

High-profile lawyer

Immigration officers are expected to collect the Kachepas at 1245 BST on that day.

Mr Johnson added: "Legally, nothing should happen (on Thursday) because we should be given three days to file a court case to appeal."

The family returned to Dorset following a documentation blunder at Heathrow Airport on 26 July, when immigration officials failed to bring the passports and tickets they needed to board the plane.

High-profile human rights lawyer Louise Christian recently took up the family's case.