FORMER West Indies international cricketer Hartley Alleyne has had the threat of deportation lifted – at least temporarily.

The Home Office has told the ex-Kent player and sports coach at St Edmund's School in Canterbury that he can stay in the UK for a further three years.

He can then apply for an extension of another three years, by which time he should qualify for citizenship.

He had initially been told that he was ineligible for a work permit, despite having been in this country for 29 years and having children who are British citizens.

Canterbury MP Julian Brazier, who has been fighting his case for some months, said: "This is a tolerable result.

"Obviously it would have been better if Hartley had been given permission to remain here permanently, but he now has a strong chance of eventually gaining the full citizenship that he deserves."

See this week's Kentish Gazette for reaction from Hartley Alleyne.