SIXTY years after helping the Allies defeat Hitler, an elderly New Zealand-born war hero may be deported from Britain.

Noel Bevan settled in the North-East, married local girl Marjorie Dumble in 1944, raised three children and worked all his life until he retired 19 years ago.

Now immigration officials are threatening the 84-year-old with deportation to his native New Zealand unless he can prove he is entitled to stay within the next six weeks.

The problem began when Mr Bevan returned to Newcastle Airport after visiting his daughter in Spain.

He was stopped by immigration officers who said he had no right to be in the UK.

Now he has to reapply for permission to stay in the country that his been his home for 60 years.

Mr Bevan, of Chester Mews, Sunderland, said: "I'm devastated. I have lived in Sunderland all my adult life.

"I met my wife here, raised my family here and I fought for this country - and now they say I am not entitled to be here."

He fought in Malta and Egypt and was also in the Royal New Zealand Air Force. He was decorated seven times.

Mr Bevan says he has never held a British visa but was allowed to stay in the UK because New Zealand was part of the Commonwealth.