A mother-of-two fears her children's father may be sent back to Pakistan after his application to stay in the UK was refused.

Muhammed Wasim, 25, has been fighting for permanent residency since he left Pakistan in 2001.

Following several failed appeals, Muhammed's partner Marsha Siddall, 21, said they had been told his travel papers to return home were being drawn up by officials.

Muhammed came to England after marrying a British-born Muslim woman. The couple had a child before divorcing in 2004.

Then Muhammed, who was still applying for permanent leave to stay in the UK, met Marsha.

The couple planned to marry, but because of immigration rules requiring them to pay to apply for permission, they settled for a Muslim blessing in a hope their union could become legal when Muhammed was given permission to stay.

Marsha said money was too tight to spend on asking permission for something which might not be granted.

She said the cost of looking after two-year-old Jamila and ten-month-old Aqil-Umaan, as well as the cost of Muhammed's travels to Halifax to see four-year-old Aminah, meant money was tight.

She said Muhammed wanted to work to support his family, but immigration laws forbade him to work or collect benefits.

And she said her benefits were being penalised because of the situation.

"Basically it would be easier if I hadn't told them he was here, but I don't want to lie. We haven't done anything wrong, he's the father of three children, but they could come round to get him at any time," she said.

Marsha, of Tichborne Road, West Bowling, said she could not understand why some people without children were allowed to stay and parents, like Muhammed, were told to leave.

She said the option of the family making a new life in Pakistan would be very difficult.

"My mum is suffering from cancer, so I would do it for Muhammed, but its not ideal," she said. The couple said a solicitor had told them all they could do was have Muhammed leave the country and then re-apply for residence.

"But there is no guarantee they would let him back," Marsha said.

e-mail: rebecca.wright@bradford.newsquest.co.uk