AN eleventh hour reprieve has been granted to the North-East mother and daughter who faced being deported to Jamaica at noon today.

Immigration minister Liam Byrne halted the order at lunchtime yesterday saying he had decided to re-examine the case of Joy Dean Bowman and her 15-year-old daughter, Chena.

But with no indication as to how long the minister's review will take, Mrs Bowman, who came to Britain six years ago with her three children after her abusive husband threatened to kill her, said she was "relieved", but still felt under threat.

Speaking from her Newcastle home, she told The Northern Echo: "We are pleased not to be leaving, but we will not be rejoicing until we get leave to stay here permanently."

Mrs Bowman, who has worked as a healthcare volunteer since she arrived on Tyneside is training to be a nurse and Chena is studying for her GCSEs.

Both her sons, Leven, 28, and Damian, 24, were granted British citizenship about the time they joined the British Army.

Mrs Bowman said yesterday she was in no doubt her life would be in danger if she was returned to Jamaica.

"Do the authorities seriously believe I would have fled with my children, leaving our five bedroomed home on a beautiful Caribbean island if we had not been seriously at risk," she said.