WORSHIPPERS at an Ipswich church are today spearheading a last-ditch campaign to prevent a 16-month-old British baby being deported to Albania.Nicole Pareshi was born in Ipswich and her father is British.

WORSHIPPERS at an Ipswich church are today spearheading a last-ditch campaign to prevent a 16-month-old British baby being deported to Albania.

Nicole Pareshi was born in Ipswich and her father is British.

However her mother Anna is Albanian – and she has been told she will be flown back to her homeland on Thursday.

Appeals by her to remain in the country have been rejected by Home Office bureaucrats, and now mother and daughter are facing the prospect of being flown into danger.

Their plight has caused outrage among members of the congregation at St Mary Elms church in Ipswich where Miss Pareshi is a regular worshipper.

"This is an intolerable situation," said vicar Fr Haley Dossor. "Anna has skills which are needed in this country and has the ability to be an asset to British society.

"What is more, Nicole is a British citizen and she is being deported with her mother. Anna was put in the terrible position of taking her or leaving her to go into care in this country."

Mr Dossor said Anna had arrived in Britain pregnant two years ago.

"She came over here to be with her British partner, but after Nicole was born he disappeared from the scene," he said.

Anna – who is in her late 20s – has nursing qualifications from Albania, and is also a qualified caterer and manicurist.

Since arriving in Britain she has been studying English. "She would be able to make a valuable contribution to this country," Mr Dossor added.

Anna had been staying in Home Office accommodation in the town until last Thursday when she and Nicole were moved to the Oakington detention centre in Cambridgeshire.

She had earlier stayed with the family of David Meikle who said there were concerns for Anna and Nicole's safety if they returned to Albania because they could be at risk from people smugglers in that country.

Local MP Chris Mole has been asked to take up Anna's case before she is deported.

"I have written to Des Browne, the immigration minister to ask him to have another look at the case – that's about all we can do at this stage. Everything else has been tried."

A spokeswoman for the Home Office said it was unable to comment on individual cases, but everyone in this position would be told what legal avenues were available.

nDo you think it is right to deport the mother of a British baby? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk