SEVERELY disabled Arati Bhavsar could lose the two relatives who help provide her with round-the-clock care because they face deportation.

Twenty-two-year-old Arati, who has cerebral palsy and extreme learning difficulties, has come to rely on the care of her aunt, Lata Shah.

But Lata (38) and her 15-year-old daughter, Devesha, now face deportation back to India following an unsuccessful application to the Home Office for permanent residency in this country.

The family appealed against the decision last month and Arati's parents have launched a campaign for their two relatives to stay and care for her at the family home in Egerton Street in Prestwich.

Father, Ajay Bhavsar (44), said: "We have asked Lata to help take over care of Arati to ease the pressure on myself and my wife, Mina. We will pay Lata and Devesha a wage to do this and there is no question of them relying on the State for anything." A disappointed Mr Bhavsar said he had been 80 per cent certain of a positive response from the Home Office as, after a seven-year battle, Arati was last year awarded a "substantial amount" in compensation from Kettering Health Authority.

The authority was found guilty of medical negligence following Arati's birth in Northamptonshire, during which she suffered difficulties in her mother's womb and was starved of oxygen.

The money is to cover the cost of care for Arati, who needs 24-hour attention, but Mr Bhavsar insists that he would prefer the family to maintain responsibility rather than have any outside help.

Arati attends a day centre three times a week and learns basic skills at Bury College but day-to-day care is carried out by her parents. Mr Bhavsar said: "Arati is very choosy who she gets close to and can become difficult if she doesn't like someone. She gradually formed a very close bond with both her aunt and cousin and now she likes only Lata to feed her and get her dressed.

"She has become like a second mother to her. If Arati was to go in a home the money would last only 15 years. This way it will last a lifetime."

He added: "After 22 years of constant caring my wife's health is now suffering and she has back problems. In that time we have been unable to be a 'married couple' but since Lata arrived we have been out as a couple twice already.

"We won't be here forever and I refuse to send Arati away because of all the scare stories you hear. If Lata goes back to India it will have a terrible affect on my daughter."

A public meeting is to be held at Prestwich Methodist Church on Monday (Sept 25) at 7.30pm to launch the campaign.

Campaigner Tony Openshaw, of the Immigration Aid Unit in Cheetham Hill, said: "Lata is obviously the best person to look after Arati and we hope that the Home Office will have compassion and allow her to stay. There is already public support for the campaign and we are determined to fight until the end."