Visitors to Britain from the Indian sub-continent could be forced to hand over a £10,000 "guarantee" before being allowed entry.

The controversial Government scheme, likely to be launched this autumn, is designed to stop illegal immigrants entering the country from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

But the proposal has already been branded unfair from those who believe it may prevent many legitimate visits.

Under the planned pilot scheme, visitors suspected of planning to settle illegally - or their families - will pay cash into a British visa office before a visa is granted. The money will be handed back if they leave by their planned return date.

The get-tough scheme, which could be extended to other countries if successful, was condemned by Bradford Council of Mosques vice-chairman, Khadim Hussain.

He said: "I think that this is a huge amount of money, especially considering that many Asian people in Bradford are unemployed.

"With the price of flights and entry visas, it already costs a great deal to bring loved ones across for a special event such as a wedding or if someone is dying. This system is unfair and will stop a lot of these visits."

Mr Hussain said the scheme would hit poorer families particularly hard.

A better idea would be for the visitor's sponsor to sign a legal document before entry was granted, said Mr Hussain. "If the person did not return, they would be held responsible and prosecuted."

Mohammed Amran, from the Commission for Racial Equality, also expressed concern about the proposal.

But Keighley MP Anne Cryer backed the move saying: "This will not cut back visits, it can only extend them." She said entry officials currently "played safe" if they had any doubts over a visitor's authenticity and refused the application.

The new measures would also introduce an appeals procedure for those refused a short-stay visa, she added.

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