A MAN who is fighting to overturn a decision to refuse his Nigerian wife a visa to live in Britain says he is overwhelmed with the response of local people.

Since Church shopkeeper Robin Haworth's plight appeared in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, dozens of people have come into his shop to sign a petition protesting at the decision to refuse his new wife Justina, admission to Britain.

Many of the people who have signed to help Robin, he says, are total strangers who have made the trip especially to back his campaign.

Robin, who lives on Elmfield Street, said: "A lot of people are supporting me through this troubled time which is wonderful.

"All I want is to be with my wife."

Hyndburn MP Greg Pope has also revealed he has been deluged with letters of support for Robin, who is now waiting to hear the Foreign Office's official reason for refusing Justina admission to the country. Robin has known Justina for more than 15 years, having met her in 1984 while working in Nigeria for Unilever.

Romance blossomed when he contacted her after his first wife, Phyllis, left him to devote her life to Buddhism in 1993.

The couple married in February and believed it would only be a matter of time before she could join him at his shop in Church.

However, following a series of interviews at the High Commission in Lagos, Justina's application was turned down -- apparently because she thought Robin drove a wagon when he actually drives a Volvo estate.

Robin added: "If they won't let her come here, I will have to go there. I love her and we want to be together."

A letter Robin wrote to Prime Minister Tony Blair has been passed on to the Foreign Office.