A TERMINALLY-ill cancer patient's daughter who faced immediate deportation has won the right to stay in the UK for six more months.

A TERMINALLY-ill cancer patient's daughter who faced immediate deportation has won the right to stay in the UK for six more months.

Tess Henry wants to remain in the UK while she cares for her mother Jennifer Jeeps, of Swan Grove, Exning near Newmarket.

She was recently told she had to leave the country, but she has now been allowed to stay for longer.

Mrs Jeeps, who has been told she has just 18 months to live, said she was delighted with the latest decision: “I am thrilled to bits - it is better than her being sent out now. I would have preferred she had a couple of years but we have to be grateful for what we have been given.”

Miss Henry, 41, was born on a US air base in Turkey and moved to England aged five when her parents divorced.

She went to school in Bury St Edmunds and trained as a nurse in Newmarket, but when she was 22 travelled to Australia on her US passport, where she got married.

She has also lived and worked in Australia, but when she learnt her 63-year-old mother had lung cancer, she returned to Newmarket to take care of her.

However, because she does not have British citizenship, immigration officials have said she cannot remain in the country indefinitely.

Mrs Jeeps, 63, said the latest news was some relief from the uncertainty and stress over her daughter's future, which was causing concern among her doctors.

Only last week the family had been told to expect deportation within a couple of days. They now hope to use the time fighting for more time together.

Mrs Jeeps added: “My children are the most important thing to me. I feel really ill and I find it hard to relax with all this going on. I just want to enjoy my daughter's company.”

Miss Henry's case won the support of West Suffolk MP Richard Spring, who wrote to Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, calling for government “discretion” in the matter.

He said to Miss Smith: “I believe there are compelling reasons for Ms Henry to remain here on compassionate grounds in view of her mother's illness, until the illness takes its course - which is no more than 18 months according to her oncologist.

“Without the significant amount of help she personally gives them, the cost to the state would undoubtedly be high.

“We are tragically talking about a temporary situation. Nothing in my entire time as an MP has moved me so much and I hope you can use your discretion in this case.”

The UK Border Agency said it did not comment on individual cases.