The family of a Bradford publican are calling on the Government to help after he was sentenced to six years jail in Thailand for drug smuggling.

Kevin Quill received the sentence in May. He was arrested with 100 amphetamines hidden in cartons of cigarettes.

Mr Quill, 39, insists the drugs were planted and appealed against the verdict immediately. The former landlord of Bradford's Fighting Cock, the Diplomat and Idle Cock pubs was released on bail but cannot leave Thailand until the case is resolved. It could take up to four years for his appeal to be heard.

Now his family are drumming up public support to urge the Government to take action on the case.

Mr Quill's sister, Lorraine, said they had prepared a petition and were collecting signatures which they intended to send to Tony Blair.

She said the petition was for people to show support and that they believed he was innocent.

"We are going to forward it to Tony Blair - we want them to let the Thai government know they are behind Kevin."

In a bid to gain more support, Ms Quill is also meeting Labour MP for Halifax Alice Mahon tomorrow to tell her about the case and present evidence which she says proves Mr Quill's innocence.

She said this included a letter from the British Embassy in Thailand, which said there was no substance to the case against him, and a video.

"We want to present all this evidence to her and hopefully get her to take it up in parliament," she said.

Ms Quill said they had also had posters produced to attract more attention.

She has contacted Fair Trials Abroad, which investigates the cases of Britons involved in legal proceedings overseas, and said they were supporting the case.

Ms Quill said her brother was feeling low.

"I think we are down to desperate measures now. We have tried everything," she said.