A political party has thrown its weight behind a campaign to stop a family of Macedonian refugees being deported from the UK.

Teesside Green Party has written to the Home Office to urge it to reconsider its decision to send the Dimitrievski family, who fled to Britain two years ago because of the war in the former Yugoslavia, back to their homeland.

The family's bid to stay in Redcar, where they have since settled, already has the backing of Redcar and Cleveland Council, Redcar MP Vera Baird, plus numerous school and local residents.

Dad Marjan, mum Lile and sons Sasha, 12, and eight-year-old Miki are currently putting together their case to take to the Court of Appeal to ask for the decision to be revoked.

The Green Party letter, to immigration minister Beverley Hughes, says: "Please consider what deportation would mean to those who know the family - in particular the school friends of the two boys.

"What would it say to them about natural justice, about the rule of law, about the state they live in, if their friends Sasha and Miki are forcibly removed with their mum and dad by the authorities, having committed no crime and against the wishes of their friends?"

The letter goes on to say that the family would be at grave personal risk if forced to return to their home near the border with Kosovo.

Green Party spokesman Peter Goodwin, of Marske, said the party believed the whole east Cleveland community was backing the family. "It is refreshing to see such agreement among local people and politicians. It would fly in the face of every humanitarian instinct if the Home Office were to insist on deportation."

Mrs Dimitrievski said she was heartened by the party's support. "We are just carrying on at the moment, trying to get as many signatures and as much help as we can to take to the Court of Appeal."