THE deportation of an asylum seeker who sought refuge in Bolton has been halted following the intervention of MP David Crausby.

Political activist Charles Pouaha, who claims he was persecuted by the Cameroonian authorities, lived in the town for eight months until his arrest in August.

He has been held in a detention centre near Gatwick and was due to be deported this week.

After his supporters, including Mr Crausby, complained to the Home Office, he was granted a judicial review of his asylum application by the Royal Courts of Justice.

Mr Pouada claims his life will be in danger if he is deported to Cameroon.

He came to England in November 2002 claiming he had been imprisoned and tortured by the authorities for his political activities.

He was part of the Committee pour le Soutien de la Liberte, which is affiliated to the Social-Democratic Front, the main opposition group in Cameroon.

While his claim for asylum was processed, Charles lived in Bolton and studied English and computer studies at Manchester College of Arts and Technology.

His application was turned down amid claims of poor legal representation. A request for a new asylum claim was immediately turned down by the Home Office.

Campaigner Namoi Byron said: "Fortunately Charles' deportation has been stopped and he is still in the country.

"This was due to a number of factors, including the number of people who wrote letters of protest to the Home Office.

"Charles has been questioned by the Cameroonian ambassador to the UK to check he was really from Cameroon.

"I believe this has now put him in even more danger if he is returned home."

Mr Crausby said: "There should be a review of his case and he should be given the opportunity to present it properly."

"Justice can then be done it terms of whether he has the right to stay or not."