HER wide-eyed innocence and beaming smile are symbols of hope for millions of families at the dawn of the new millennium.

But five-month-old Kosovar baby Elisa Ademi is no ordinary child.

There is no future for her in her devastated homeland from where her parents were forced from their house and beaten by Serb police.

Now her mum and dad have launched a bid to provide a permanent future for her in East Lancashire - which has provided a haven for them since the summer.

They can stay at Shadsworth House, Blackburn, until next June, but dad Arben, 24, and mum Valbona, 21, have no intention of returning to the shattered town of Podujeve in northern Kosovo.

"There is nothing for us back home," said Arben. "The people of Blackburn have been fantastic and we just want to say thank you to the people and the Government."

Valbona was heavily pregnant when she arrived in East Lancashire and she later gave birth to 8lb Elisa at Queen's Park Hospital, Blackburn.

The happy ending had followed a tortuous and traumatic journey to East Lancashire. The couple had been forced from their homes and walked 16 hours to the capital Pristina. They headed to Macedonia only for Serb police to capture Arben and beat him for two hours.

He survived the violence and was reunited with his wife before completing the journey safely to Macedonia.

Valbona said: "I was frightened all the time as we were chased by the Serb forces."

Also bidding for permanent residency in Blackburn will be Fehmi and Arizona Suhagerllaj, whose son Albion was born at Queen's Park two months ago.

The Suhagerllaj family too is staying at Shadsworth House in Dunoon Drive after escaping their village in central Kosovo.

Their home was among the first to be burned to the ground before the start of the NATO bombardment.

Fehmi, 24, said: "My dream came true when we arrived in England. We are very happy with life and we would like to stay to rebuild our lives."

Kosovar families have been overwhelmed by the generosity of the Muslim community in East Lancashire during Ramadan. Jennie Grunshaw, centre manager at the former Laneside home for the elderly where many Kosovar families are staying, today said a big thank you to the big-hearted locals.

She said: "On behalf of the Kosovar families at Laneside may I thank the Muslim community for their generous gifts of fruit for Ramadan and their support over the last six months.

"Also thanks to local shopkeepers and residents for their continued generosity and to the gentleman who brought the toys on Thursday. You did not give your name but you have put smiles on many faces."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.