A refugee family who have not seen their daughter for seven years have been given fresh hope of an emotional reunion.

Ben Mussanzi, 54, who has been a vocal campaigner for asylum seekers' rights while battling for his own family to stay in Bradford, has been repeatedly told that daughter Mpenzi would not be allowed to visit Britain.

But now Mpenzi has got a job as a doctor they hope she may be allowed in to see her parents.

For years Mpenzi has been trying to see her dad and mum, Kongosi, who fled from their home in the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa after violent and drug-crazed child militias targeted them because of their outspoken views.

Mr and Mrs Mussanzi were granted leave to stay in the country last year and have since helped other asylum seekers through various Bradford-based charities.

But leave for their daughter to visit has been refused because of fears that the 26-year-old would be lost among hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers who get into Britain each year and go on to stay for good.

However, Mr Mussanzi said he and his wife had been given some hope of seeing their daughter after she got a job as a doctor at a hospital in Congo.

Mr Mussanzi of Great Horton, Bradford, said: "We hope that one day - maybe when they get a letter from her employers to say she is working - they will let her in.

"She is being refused access to her parents and we have had seven years of separation.

"She has been refused three times and she even travelled to a neighbouring country and was then refused. We were devastated and she went back crying to Congo to start her job.

"We do really hope that we will be able to see her soon and that she can visit for a holiday.

"We hope now that we will be able to see her in the summer."