A pair of teenagers face spending Christmas in a deportation camp after being seized from the home in Hove where they grew up.

Harvey Sisya, 15, and his sister Kandazi, 13, known as Kandy, were being held at a centre at Heathrow Airport yesterday along with their mother Gift.

The Zambian family have lived in Hove since 2001 but have now had deportation notices served against them by the UK Border Agency.

They have been in detention centres at Gatwick, in Bedfordshire and at Heathrow since November 28.

In an attempt not to fall behind his classmates Harvey has even been taking mock GCSE exams while there.

Pupils at Hove Park School, which the pair have attended for years, said they were shocked by what was happening.

Harvey's friends said he was British to all extents and purposes and had never known he could be deported.

Classmate Charley Guile, 15, said: "We've only been able to speak to him for two minutes at a time. He's been putting on a bit of a front but you can tell he's really upset. His mum has been crying on the phone and we've been told his sister has been on hunger strike.

"Harvey had no idea this was happening. He woke up one morning thinking he would be coming to school and then this happened.

"He only lived in Zambia for five years, he's always been here – this is his home. What they are doing is not fair."

Staff at the school said the family were due to be deported on Tuesday but last ditch efforts by lawyers had secured an injunction to stop them from being put on a plane.

A judicial review, expected to be heard in January, will give a final ruling.

Hove Park deputy head Rob Millman said: "Everyone at the school is in shock and disbelief at what has happened. Harvey has been a pupil here since he was 11 and he has less than 80 school days left before his GCSEs and the end of his formal education. Kandy is coming up to a vital stage in her education as well, making choices for Key Stage 4.

"These two children are in this situation through no fault of their own. They are lovely kids, they are students who have integrated fully into the school and who have participated and contributed well to the community.

"We just hope the immigration service see sense."

Mr Millman said the school and pupils were doing everything they could to help although admitted they felt "powerless".

They have sent work, books, magazines and other entertainment, made daily phonecalls and have lobbied for help.

They have called for the family to be released for Christmas and are preparing to send gifts.

Hove MP Celia Barlow has been contacted and charity Brighton Voices In Exile said it was helping with the case.

A spokeswoman for the UK Border Agency said it was unable to comment on individual cases. She said it only removed families who were in the UK unlawfully after all their appeal rights have been used.

She said: "Whilst there is an outstanding right of appeal we will not pursue removal to ensure that the correct decision is made.

"Once all appeal rights are exhausted we would much rather that those here illegally left voluntarily. Sadly, some families choose not to do so even though they are given every opportunity to leave voluntarily. We then have a duty to enforce the law."