ONE Prestwich family has more reason than most to wish for a happy new year.

For the Bhavsars, of Egerton Street, are hoping to win the fight to keep their disabled daughter's full-time carers in the country.

They are just a few weeks away from an important appeal against the deportation of relatives Lata Shah and her teenage daughter, Devesha, back to India.

The family's dilemma, exclusively highlighted in the Bury Times in September 2000, began when the pair had visited England for a holiday but soon became attached to Arati (23) who has cerebral palsy and extreme learning difficulties due to a hospital blunder at birth.

Lata and Devesha became Arati's main carers, easing pressure on her parents Ajay and Mina, who also have two sons, to have a well-earned rest.

They applied to the Home Office for permanent residency but were unsuccessful. A campaign was launched to persuade the authorities to allow the pair to remain in Prestwich and around 10,000 signatures were collected. Now, after living for more than 12 months as a family, Lata, who is Mina's sister, and Devesha will learn their fate at the hearing on Friday, February 1.

Campaign secretary Tony Openshaw said: "Legally we cannot win the appeal but we are hoping the adjudicator will recommend to the Home Secretary that Lata and Devesha can stay on compassionate grounds.

"And we believe that with the amount of support the campaign has received the outcome will be positive."

Mr Openshaw said he hoped as many supporters as possible would accompany the family to the Appeal Court at Aldine House in New Bailey Street, Salford.

"There have been some ups and downs over the past year and it has been quite stressful for the family," added Mr Openshaw. "There has been a lot of waiting for them but Arati has come on in leaps and bounds which has proved just how important it has been having her aunt around."

Arati's father, Ajay, said he was feeling hopeful about the new year. He added: "It will be really fantastic if they are allowed to stay. Once the decision has been made we will have no worries as we know Arati will have the best carers in the world.

"Every day she learns something new and Devesha has become a role model for her, like a sister."

He added that Lata shares the caring with his wife and thanks to her help they were able to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary together with a holiday last year.

"We went to New York, Las Vegas and Hawaii and for the first few days we just looked at each others' faces," said Ajay.

"Thanks to Lata we are able to start enjoying life as husband and wife for the first time in 25 years."

"If they stay I will know that Arati's future is secure. The year 2002 will be like a new start for us all."