A West Cumbrian vicar has offered to write a letter of support for a mum-of-four facing possible deportation.

The Rev Julia Powley, vicar of Harrington and Distington, has given her support to Alison Hawkins, who has lived in England for 13 years but may have to leave after a mix up over her visa application.

Miss Powley said: "It's crazy. This is a woman who's lived a very normal life here for 13 years, has brought her children up here, has worked, has never claimed benefits and is two years away from applying for citizenship.

"I can't see why any country would want to deport a woman who's basically given to this country for 13 years.

"People need to be seen on their merits.

"What are we doing as a society or a government splitting families up? As a church leader I'm in the business of reconciling, not splitting up."

Mrs Hawkins, 42, of Distington, is originally from South Africa. 

She moved to the UK with her British husband Wayne, 44, and their children, who are British citizens.

She applied in July to renew her visa and was told earlier this month the application had been rejected because she had not paid an NHS surcharge.

The Home Office said a letter had been sent about the fee but Mrs Hawkins never received it.

She has now been told she must either reapply, in a lengthy and costly process with no guarantee of success, of leave the country in which she is now classed as an over stayer.

Because of system changes, if she submitted a fresh application Mrs Hawkins would have to wait 10 years, rather than the two she previous faced, before she could apply for citizenship.

Miss Powley called for a less hard lined approach to immigration, both for people like Alison who have settled in the country and for people seeking asylum, and a more flexible approach.

Copeland MP Jamie Reed has taken up Mrs Hawkins' case and is in contact with the Home Office.

Miss Powley has pledged to write a letter of support if one is needed.

Hundreds of people have signed an online petition supporting Mrs Hawkins' case.

Harrington and Distington curate the Rev Heather Lowe has also put a petition in Distington Community Centre for people who cannot get online.