A FATHER whose two young children were facing being deported to South Africa is celebrating after visas allowing them to live with him in Burnley arrived.

Eight-year-old Seth Tutt and his six-year-old sister Leigh were brought here by their father Justin Tutt, 29, after the sudden death of their mother.

The children had been facing the prospect of deportation in February when their holiday visa ran out, but Mr Tutt was told by the UK Border Agency that they can stay on five-year settlement visas after a campaign of support by the Lancashire Telegraph.

After the five year period they can apply for permanent passports.

The children, who are attending St Mary’s RC Primary, were left living with their grandparents in a residential home in South Africa after their mother Deirdre Tutt committed suicide in the South African town of Kimberley last May.

Mr Tutt, who lives in Burnley with his partner Clare Miles, 30, her daughter Kaitlyn, seven, and their 11-month-old son Jake, flew out to South Africa in February to bring them over on a three-month holiday visa.

Justin said: “I am so relieved that this ordeal is finally over. It is an amazing result.

It has only taken six weeks from filling out all the paper work to them arriving at my solicitors.

“I would like to thank the Home Office for dealing with it so swiftly and keeping the solicitors informed, also for all the support we have had throughout the process.

“The children are very settled here and love living in England with us. Myself and Claire are getting married next week and this is the icing on the cake for our family.”

He said he was certain that the children would be put into care if they were forced to return to South Africa as living with their grandparents was a temporary measure.

He feared that in South African care homes the children were at high risk of being sexually abused or even killed.