A WELDER born and bred in East Lancashire said he fears for his future after being told he must leave the UK by immigration officials.

Shane Ridge said his life was brought to a standstill when he received a letter from the Home Office telling him he had no 'lawful basis' to stay in the country.

The 21-year-old former Colne Primet Academy pupil, who has a British father and an Australian mother, received the letter out of the blue months after his application for a British passport was refused.

Mr Ridge, who works for Kirk Environmental Ltd in Blackburn, said he has been told he could face deportation to Australia despite never living in the country and only visiting it once on holiday.

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He said: "I'm really worried. I have never been told about this before in my life.

"I've got my GCSE's here, I have paid taxes here, I left school and went straight into work. I've paid national health insurance.

"It put my whole life on hold and I had to have a couple of days off work because I couldn't think straight and needed to start to sort this out.

"I've never lived in another country, how can I be a citizen somewhere else?

"I'm scared the Home Office could come knocking on my door or my workplace and detain me."

According to the British Nationality Act 1981, anyone born between 1983 and 2006 could not gain British citizenship through their father, if their mother wasn't British, unless their parents were married.

After 2006 mixed nationality parents did not have to be married for their child to claim British citizenship.

Mr Ridge, who lives in Birtwistle Avenue, Colne with his mum Sue Ebbs, and half brothers Liam, six, and Connor, 16, even has grandparents based in Nelson.

He also has an older half sister Stacie, 27, and is the only one of his siblings not to have British citizenship.

When he was born, Mr Ridge's mother, an Australian citizen with 'right to abode', was not married to his father Paul Ridge resulting in him gaining Australian citizenship.

In a letter headed 'Important notice concerning your driving licence', Mr Ridge was told by the Home Office: "According to our records you have no lawful basis to be in the UK.

"You should take steps to leave the UK immediately.

"If you do not leave voluntarily, you may be prosecuted and face a fine up to £5,000 and up to six months imprisonment.

"You may also be forcibly removed from the UK and banned from returning for up to 10 years."

Mr Ridge has since applied for British citizenship and hopes the government will allow him to remain in the country.

He has also taken his case to Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson, who has contacted the Home Office on his behalf.

Mr Ridge said: "I've been told I have to complete a language test despite having a GCSE in English.

"I'm being treated like I've come here illegally and as if I've done something wrong.

"It's really difficult. I've been with my girlfriend for six years and we are engaged.

"We don't know who to turn to. No one I know has ever encountered anything like this before.

"We tried to get a solicitor but it was too expensive and we couldn't afford it."

Applications for British citizenships can take several months to complete and can cost more than £180.

As well as facing deportation Mr Ridge has had his driving licence revoked.

Ms Ebbs, 45, said: "It has completely ripped his world apart.

"No one ever told me he wasn't or couldn't be a British citizen from birth to now.

"If someone would have told me at the time my baby was not a British citizen I would have sorted it out straight away.

"I'm worried all the time."

Immigration Lawyer Abdul Hafeez Darr, of Blackwater Solicitors in Blackburn, described the rules around immigration as 'less than straightforward'.

He said: "The rules take into account when and where an individual was born and the circumstances of the parents at that time.

"In certain circumstances the parents status later on can also be taken into account.

"Due to the complexity of the rules we would always recommend anyone with an enquiry to seek professional advice from a professional legal advisor who will be able to take all relevant factors into account and help submit an application to the Home Office having regard to all rules and guidance."

Mr Stephenson said: "It is very difficult and it is very distressing.

"Unfortunately it is not the first time I have come across a case like this.

"I will do everything I can to support Shane and make sure he gets the right to remain in the UK resolved as soon as possible."

A Home Office spokesman said: "The Home Office has been in regular contact with Mr Ridge and has advised him in how to go about acquiring the necessary permission to remain in the UK."