ASYLUM-seeking families living in Dover who thought they were going to be allowed to stay in this country under the amnesty announced by the Government in October, have now been told all support is being withdrawn.

And they have been ordered to leave their homes by the end of this month.

Dover and Deal MP Gwyn Prosser said he was "appalled" at the news, and he has taken the matter up with the new Immigration Minister Des Brown, who took over from Beverley Hughes.

Many of them have been here for five years or more, and would have expected to be included in the amnesty for families who had arrived here before October 2, 2000.

They were told they would have to wait up to six months to find out if they were included, and individuals were advised not to contact the authorities directly, but to wait for a letter to arrive.

But when the letter arrived, it told them that as the countries they had fled from in the first place are due to join the European Union on May 1, they would no longer be entitled to receive any benefits at all.

It also informed them that if they are living in accommodation provided by the National Asylum Support Service, they must leave their homes by April 30.

Mr Prosser said: "As soon as I became aware of it, I sent an urgent fax to Des Brown. I have expressed my grave concerns.

“He has replied to say that further clarification will be passed to me when they receive it from the Home Office.

"I am very concerned that the families have been told they will be evicted by the end of the month."

It is believed 17 families in Dover are affected. Most of them were originally from the Czech republic but there may also be some from Poland.