Former county ace won't be deported after all

Fast bowler Hartley Alleyne, who has lived in this country for more than 20 years, had previously been told he faced being sent back to his native Barbados because he did not have the NVQ 3 certificate that would allow him to stay here on a work permit and work as a sports coach at a school in Canterbury, Kent.

However, following a lengthy and vociferous opposition, the Home Office has told the former West Indies international cricketer the threat of deportation has been temporarily lifted.

The news has been welcomed by his supporters and old Worcestershire club.

Chief executive Mark Newton said it was great news. "He has been over here a long time and he's more than proved that he is a citizen of this country and deserves to live here," he said. "I'm delighted to hear that news because he does a lot of good work within cricket."

Mr Newton said the New Road club had sent numerous letters of support to Mr Alleyne in the past few months, including a petition to keep him in the UK signed by players past and present.

Canterbury and Whitstable MP Julian Brazier, who has been co-ordinating the campaign for him to stay, cautiously welcomed the news.

"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," he said.

We previously reported in your Worcester News how Mr Alleyne had been teaching cricket to youngsters at St Edmunds School in Canterbury since 2005 but was told he could no longer work there after he was refused a permit last year.

However, he has now been granted three year's grace and has been told he can apply for an extension to his work permit in another three years, by which time he should qualify for citizenship.

The married father of three, who has an English wife, was unavailable for comment as your Worcester News went to press.