A GRANDMOTHER who was deported despite having lived in Britain for almost 30 years has been reunited with her family for the first time in seven months.

Irene Clennell, who has lived in County Durham since 1990, was put in a Scottish detention centre before being deported back to Singapore with just £12 in her pocket and the clothes she was wearing.

At the time of her deportation, the 53-year-old was the main carer for her seriously ill husband, John, who she has been married to for 27 years.

But on Wednesday morning she was reunited with John on British soil for the first time since February 2.

Mrs Clennell, who is mother to John, 26 and Sonny, 25, said: “I am just so happy to see everyone, to be back with my husband and children and dogs, and know that everything will be okay. It’s a relief.”

Mr and Mrs Clennell, who live in Ouston, near Chester-le-Street, first met in a London bar, when she worked in a casino in 1989.

They married in 1990 and Mrs Clennell was given indefinite leave to remain in the UK.

She fell foul of Foreign Office red tape when she returned for extended periods to Singapore to care for her sick parents, who have both since died of cancer.

Her experience made headlines around the world, and kind members of the public set up crowdfunding pages and raised £56,470 to contribute to lawyers’ fees, travel and accommodation.

After seven months of worrying about her husband’s health from over 6,500 miles away, she is now pleased to know that she can care for him again.

Mrs Clennell added: “When I saw him as soon as I got back he looked haggard and drained. I did not want to cry in front of him because I did not want to upset him. He has really been struggling with me gone.

“I want to thank the public for their help. If it was not for the British public then I would still be in Singapore.

“It has not only been donations, but people have given me such kind words as well. I just can’t wait until it sinks in.”