American tourist Victoria Clark's plan to spend three months visiting friends in Keighley ended up as just seven hours in Heathrow airport's terminal four.

After a 12-hour flight from Houston, Texas, bound for a stay in the district, she was immediately sent back home after a grilling from immigration officers.

And she was turned back because she had only £30 in her pocket.

Despite possessing an international banker's card and money in the bank, the immigration service ruled she lacked enough funds to support herself in the UK. And they were concerned she was to stay in a public house and not spend enough cash on the tourist trail.

It left her friend Paul Preston, pictured, bemused and upset at his home in the Kings Head, South Street, Keighley. And Miss Clark was angry and disappointed at failing to reach Keighley where she was to stay with 28-year-old Mr Preston and his parents.

Mr Preston, who met Victoria on the Internet, said: "She was to stay here for a long holiday and we were to support her.

"We had a room ready and everything. I was looking forward to showing her the sights, especially the historical features of the area.

"This was to be her first visit to the UK - it was even her first time out of her own country."

Mr Preston was contacted by the immigration service on the day she landed and answered a series of questions about Victoria, including how long he had known her and how they had met.

"They said they were concerned about her working here. I told them she was a visitor. We have no job for her - I don't even work in the pub," he said.

"I feel angry that Victoria had to spend seven hours in a holding room. She had to face all those questions and then she was sent back."

Miss Clark, who had a return flight booked and had paid for the rail trip to Keighley, said she felt she was treated like a criminal.

"They feared I would be an over-stayer. I was also told that staying in a pub wasn't what they wanted people to do when visiting the UK. They wanted tourist to travel, to go out and spend money. "

An immigration service spokeswoman said: "There are no hard and fast rules. We are not out to trap people and we are not turning round back-packers.

"We must be satisfied people are genuine visitors for the limited period they stay. We look at all the circumstances including their employment background and a decision is taken in context."