A CAMPAIGN launched in Bury to persuade the Government to grant a family amnesty to asylum seekers has enlisted the support of the borough's two MPs.

And some local refugees and their children bore placards during a visit to Bury South MP Ivan Lewis's constituency office in Prestwich.

They were able to chat with the MP about the Castaways Campaign which has already won the backing of more than local 350 people, including church leaders,school headteachers and individuals.

The campaign is being co-ordinated by Eagles Wing, and Solidarity the Bury Committee. The organisations are based at the town's Mosses Centre which stages drop-in sessions and other activities for asylum seekers and their families.

Hundreds of local people have already signed a statement urging the Government to grant a family amnesty to children and their parents who are living within the local community. The supporters also call upon the Government not to make destitute, detain or deport children.

The statement has received widespread endorsement and the Bury campaigners hope to win support from other areas of the UK as well Ivan Lewis and his Bury North counterpart David Chaytor.

They point out that there was a family amnesty granted in October, 2000, which meant that families arriving in the UK before that date are allowed to stay.

Commenting on their visit to Ivan Lewis's office in Bury New Road, Prestwich, Castaways Campaign spokeswoman Sue Arnall said: "He was sympathetic to several individual problems and cautious about the prospects of a new amnesty. He said he would speak to David Chaytor, who is sympathetic to the request. All of the parents who spoke have been here for more than five years and have school age children.

"The hope is that other areas with similarly settled families will take up the call for a new family amnesty and support our MPs in Westminster with an Early Day Motion."