LAWYERS acting on behalf of hacker Gary McKinnon, 43, of Palmers Green, have lodged a last-ditch attempt to halt his looming extradition to the US.

In a statement yesterday, his legal team at Kaim Todner said a request for an extension of time to lodge an application for a Judicial Review until December 17 had been made.

Last week, Home Secretary Alan Johnson said medical evidence relating to Mr McKinnon's Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism, was not strong enough to halt the move on human rights grounds and is scheduled to be sent to the US on December 10.

Mr McKinnon is facing 60 years in prison if convicted of breaking into US military computers.

Former Haringey schoolboy Mr McKinnon, who lived in Crouch End when he committed the offences, admitted breaching their systems but said he was simply seeking UFO evidence.