A Bradford man has told how he lived under a false name for 28 years in fear of the outside world discovering he was an illegal immigrant.

Mohammed Shafiq, 41, of Heaton, was brought to Britain as a youngster by his uncle who told the authorities he was the boy's father to ensure his entry into the country.

Now, years later, he is setting the record straight and this year changed his name by deed poll from Sharif Baig - the made-up name his uncle gave him - to his real name.

Many families in the 1960s falsified documents to allow families to escape third world poverty and enter Britain.

Legal advice shows it very unlikely that any prosecutions or a deportment would take place after so many years.

It was only after marrying his uncle's daughter - on paper his sister - did Mr Sharif long to use his real name. He said: "I will be happy when it's all sorted out because at last I will be what I am in reality. Everyone has enemies and I will have no fear and will not be scared of anything happening to me."

Mr Sharif said: "Most of my friends and family and relatives knew anyhow that my name is Mohammed Sharif. People still call me by my previous name because they are so used to it, especially my old school pals."

Mr Shafiq needed to hand in his first passport, containing the false information, to the Home Office, which is likely to give him permanent residence and re-issue a new passport.

But before he gave it in to the Home Office he applied for a Pakistan passport so he can still visit his family overseas.

He says he has faced delay after delay from the Pakistani Consulate in Leeds Road, Bradford, and has now lodged an official complaint through Bradford West Labour MP Marsha Singh.

Mr Shafiq said: "They are supposed to be representing a country which has three million people here." He said he was not allowed to discuss the issue in confidence with consulate staff.

He said: "You have to share your life history with a queue of 30 people. I was sick with what I had to go through." A spokesman for the Pakistan Consulate said investigations were continuing but were expected to be over within ten to 15 days.

He added: "It's our duty to serve the people of Pakistan. They receive the best possible services we can offer them."

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