A Distington woman is still waiting to find out if she will face deportation, almost four months after applying for a new visa.

Alison Hawkins, 42, was told in September that she may have to leave the country she has called home for 13 years following a mix up with her visa application.

Mrs Hawkins, a mum-of-four, applied last July to renew her visa. 

She had aimed to apply for citizenship two years later.

Two months later she was told the application had been rejected because she had failed to pay a £500 NHS surcharge.

A letter informing her about the surcharge had not arrived.

Mrs Hawkins, who lives with her British husband Wayne and their children, who are British citizens, was told she would have to submit a new application, under a new system, or leave the country.

Because of the new system, she would have had to wait 10 years before applying for British citizenship, rather than the two years she faced under the old system.

About 600 people have signed a petition supporting the former Southfield Technology College governor's bid to stay in the country.

She has also received the backing of councillors and community leaders.

Mrs Hawkins submitted a new application in October, hoping it would be accepted under the old system.

She was told by the Home Office that it aimed to process it within eight weeks.

More than 16 weeks on, she remains in limbo.

She is still unable to return to work and cannot go abroad as she would be unable to return to the country.

Mrs Hawkins said: "I have phoned twice. All they can tell me is it's ongoing.

"I'm anxious to hear whatever way it goes.

"I'm in limbo at the moment not being able to make any plans.

"We are not making any plans. We're just living day to day."

Bosses at Haighs Butchers on Pow Street, Workington, have kept Mrs Hawkins' job open for her, but she fears they will be unable to do that indefinitely.