Supporters of a British citizen on death row have asked the government to intervene in his case.

John Elliott, known as Jackie, faces execution in February after 16 years on death row in Texas.

The 42-year-old was born with dual citizenship - his father was stationed at RAF Bentwaters, a US Air Force base in Suffolk.

His parents Robert and Dorothy, who have now returned to the US, lived in Felixstowe.

Motion tabled

The construction worker was convicted of murdering Joyce Munguia and sentenced to die by a court in Austin, Texas in 1987.

The Labour MP for Hull North, Kevin McNamara, tabled an early day motion on Elliott's behalf, supported by 14 other MPs.

He said: "At a time when Britain and the US stand together over Iraq, I hope that the state of which President Bush is the former governor will find a way to work with us urgently to resolve this issue."

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "It's our policy to make representations against the use of the death penalty and its imposition on British nationals at whatever stage and level is judged to be most appropriate."

Elliott's case is supported by Amnesty International and Michael Mansfield QC.

A spokesman for the campaign said Elliott had always protested his innocence.

Elliott's supporters believe British MPs helped in the case of Briton Krishna Maharaj, who was re-sentenced to life in jail after a stint on death row in Florida.