MONTHS of fear and anxiety were washed away today - when a teenager facing deportation was told she could stay in this country.

South African-born Candice Chesher was going to be booted out of Britain despite the fact that the rest of her family could stay at their home in Ripon.

But following widespread publicity and a 2,500-signature petition to 10 Downing Street the Home Office has changed its mind.

They have issued a five-year residency permit to her mother Karen, giving the right to her dependants to stay for an equal period of time.

And the family have been told to expect no problems when Candice now applies for citizenship.

A euphoric Karen said yesterday: "This is wonderful. We can start living like a normal family now, looking forward to the future and making plans."

Candice moved to Ripon in 2003, with her mother, stepfather and younger brother. The family had lost everything when the business they worked for in Pretoria went bust.

Her stepfather Martin, originally from Nottingham, holds a British passport, his wife Karen has an Irish passport and their 16-year-old son Alex also holds a British passport.

But Candice - Karen's daughter by a previous relationship - has a South African passport and, despite pleas from the family, the Home Office originally insisted she had to go.

However it was Karen's Irish passport which finally swung the case in their favour, giving Candice the right to stay as a dependant of an EU national.

"Since the situation came up eight months ago we've hardly been able to sleep. The worrying , the nerves and everything have been absolutely crazy," said Karen.

"Candice is over the moon - and even more so because she has just got her work placement through, working in child care at a nursery school in Ripley."

A Home Office spokesman said yesterday: "While we cannot comment on an individual case dependants under the age of 21 have the right to install themselves with an EU national who is employed in a member state."