CAMPAIGNERS are celebrating a major step forward in their fight to allow a Prestwich family stay in this country.

A recommendation has been made to the Home Office by an independent adjudicator stressing that Lata and Devesha Shah should be granted permanent residency in Britain.

The move follows a well-supported court appeal on the case held in Salford last month.

Lata and Devesha, who are mother and daughter, were forced to appeal against deportation back to India after they became full-time carers to Lata's severely disabled niece, Arati Bhavsar.

The pair came to Britain on holiday in 2000 to stay with Lata's sister Meena Bhavsar, of Egerton Street in Prestwich.

Their application for residency was turned down and a campaign, supported by MP Ivan Lewis, was launched to try and overturn the decision on the grounds that Lata and Devesha had become an important part of Arati's life, enabling her parents Meena and Ajay to take a well-earned rest.

Although they could not legally win the case on February 1, campaigners had hoped for a positive recommendation from the adjudicator.

A delighted campaign organiser, Tony Openshaw, said: "We have received the recommendation we were hoping for"

Quoting from the official letter of determination, he added that the adjudicator recommended that: "The appellant be given indefinite leave to remain in this country outside the immigration rules."

The outcome of the appeal has been lodged with the Home Office and Tony said the campaign would now ask MP Ivan Lewis to speak to Home Secretary David Blunkett to try and encourage him to uphold the recommendation.

Tony added: "This is the best news we could have had. The family are over the moon. We realise that it is not over yet, as the decision has to be ratified, but we are really optimistic."

Mr Lewis said: "I am delighted that a common sense and compassionate recommendation has been made in this case.

"I am optimistic that the Home Secretary will look favourably on the recommendation and allow Lata and Devesha to remain with their family in the UK."

David Blunkett is expected to make his decision within the next couple of weeks.