SUPPORTERS of a Bradford student with Down's Syndrome who could face violence in her native Malawi if she is deported are hopeful she can stay in the UK after her other family members won indefinite leave to stay.

Memory Juma, 22, came to Bradford ten years ago after facing prejudice in her village because of her condition but is threatened with deportation.

Now three family members have been given indefinite leave to remain in the UK by the immigration and nationality department at the Home Office.

But Ms Juma's application was submitted separately and supporters are waiting for news if it too has been successful.

This latest application comes three years after her friends successfully fought a previous threat to deport her.

Supporter Dominic Wall, who has worked to safeguard Ms Juma's legal rights and was her head teacher at Southfield Grange up to 2013, said the Home Office decision offered fresh hope.

"They (the family) are very happy about that, it enables them to stay in Bradford and the children can stay in school where they are doing very well.

"It is a very good indication and it makes us all very hopeful that Memory can stay. It leads us to think that it could be very good news.

"But her family won't celebrate until Memory is safely with them. They are still holding out for Memory.

"We would hope to hear about Memory in the next two or three weeks.

"We had a fantastic boost from the public support with the appeal.

"We are now holding our breath for news on Memory."

Supporters needed to find the £5,000 to pay for the family's applications which included the cost of an NHS surcharge, set at £200 per year and £150 per year for students.

The appeal was organised by Mr Wall and teachers and supporters at Bradford College.

The surcharge was brought in after the family was granted three years 'leave to remain' in 2012.

Non-EEA nationals who come to the UK to work, study or join family for a period of more than six months are required to pay the surcharge.

As a baby, Ms Juma was kept indoors by her grandmother because of people's talk of witchcraft and of evil, according to her family.

As she got older, she was called a "witch-child".

Bradford College student Ms Juma attends HFT's weekly session at the learning zone in Preston Street in Bradford.

A Home Office spokesman said: "All applications for leave to remain in the UK are considered on their individual merits and in line with the immigration rules. We do not routinely comment on individual cases."