CAMPAIGNERS were making a last-ditch attempt today to stop the deportation of a family who were due to be sent back to Malawi tonight.

As lawyers argue the case of the Kachepa family at a London court, friends will take a petition to immigration minister Des Browne in Westminster today.

Verah Kachepa, 44, and her children Natasha, 20, Alex, 17, Anthony, 16 and Upili, 10, who have had their applications for asylum rejected on appeal, were arrested at their Weymouth home in a dawn raid on Sunday and have been awaiting their fate at Yarlswood detention centre in Bedfordshire.

They are due to be flown out from Heathrow Airport at 8.30pm unless a barrister can convince a court deporting them would contravene Article 8 of the Human Rights Act, which gives in-dividuals the right to lead a family life.

Thoughts and prayers were with the family at a candle-lit vigil held at St Augustine's Catholic Church in Weymouth last night attended by more than 120 people.

Pupils from St Augustine's Primary School, All Saints School and Weymouth College joined parishioners to light candles and sing songs in an act of solidarity.

Ralph Johnson, who has been supporting the Kachepa family through his involvement with the church's St Vincent de Paul group, said: "It was very emotional, there were lots of tears especially from the classmates of the children.

"We are just hoping that the court action today delays the deportation process."

Parish priest Father Philip Dyson said: "The vigil was very moving and well supported by a cross-section of the community.

"The young people in particular are shocked by what's happened to their friends."

A convoy left the resort at lunchtime bound for Westminster where campaigners will present a petition to Des Browne's office.

Meanwhile, messages of support for the family have continued to flood in.

Patricia Blyth, headteacher of St Augustine's where Upili goes to school, said pupils were very upset when she didn't turn up for the schools' music event at the Royal Albert Hall and subsequently, to class on Monday.

She said: "On hearing of the reason and circumstances of Upili's non-attendance the tears in school were both a natural childlike response to separation and a fear and distrust of the British justice system and Upile's human rights."

Mrs Blyth added: "The Kachepa family were fully integrated and valuable members of our community.

"They added value to our school and parishes by their support and by their giving generously of their time to all we do."

Tim Balmforth, headteacher of All Saints, said: "There is a vast amount of sympathy for the family who are very much part of the community.

"Whatever the legal ramifications of this, the thing that has upset everyone here is the way this business has been handled."

South Dorset MP Jim Knight says if the family clears the first hurdle at court today it would clear the way for a judicial review and the minister would have to suspend the deportation to allow the case to be heard.

He said currently there wasn't a case for the family to remain based on the evidence presented.

Mr Knight added: "I would like to see the family remain because they have become a part of our community.

"This has been demonstrated by the amount of feeling locally in the last few days.

"There's no doubt in my mind they're a valued family within Weymouth."