TWO university researchers who were told they had less than two weeks to leave the UK have been given a glimmer of hope after a temporary stop was put on deportation proceedings.

Dr Ernesto Schwartz-Marin, 36, and his wife, Dr Arely Cruz-Santiago, 32, who are both academics at Durham University, were told they must leave the country because they spent too long carrying out research in their home country.

Within ten days, more than 65,000 people signed a petition calling for the couple, who live in Durham with their 11-year-old daughter Camila, to be allowed to stay.

And Dr Schwartz-Marin confirmed he was relieved to receive an email from the Home Office telling him of their latest decision just two hours ago.

He said: "It's a relief because I felt the threat of being kicked out by police force and it means we have more time to work on a strategy."

He added: "We want to let everyone know that all the pressure they have put on has really helped and although there's still a lot to do; something is happening which we are so grateful for.

"We have had fantastic support from our friends and colleagues - this is great news."

Dr Schwartz-Marin said the battle to remain in the UK was still on-going and the couple really want to get back to work.

He said: "The next important step for me is to be able to go back to work and it is probably going to be a long battle but we need to challenge these unfair rules on academic freedom."

The Home Office says they refused their application for indefinite leave to remain in the UK because they exceeded the 180 days applicants are permitted to be out of the country.

In 2014 and 2015, they spent 270 days in Mexico carrying out research, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, to create the country’s first ever citizen-led DNA database to help people to identify victims of violence.

They say the time spent in Mexico should not count against them because they were assisting with a humanitarian crisis, which has seen about 160,000 people killed and 30,000 disappear.

The couple, who moved to the UK in 2007 and to Durham in 2012, have since presented 1.5kg of evidence to the Home Office, including letters from NGOs, the BBC and Mexican charities.

The couple are being assisted by Jolyon Maugham, the founder of the Good Law Project who also tweeted the announcement.

He said: "I have just learned that the Home Office has put a temporary stop on deportation proceedings "to try to find a way forward for you to stay in the UK". Thanks to everyone who has supported this amazing campaign."

No response has yet been received by the Home Office.