AN ASYLUM seeker who has just won an appeal to stay indefinitely in the UK is to thank the Queen personally - by creating an image of her mother in needlework.

Iranian refugee Kalid Salimi, who is living in Stockton, has had his application to remain in the UK granted by the Home Office.

As a token of thanks, he wants to present the Queen with a carpet, weaved by his wife, of the Queen Mother.

It took his wife, Khomar Abdy, almost a month to complete the carpet using her traditional weaving skills. She has remained in Iran with their two children, aged seven and five.

Mr Salimi said: "I am so pleased that I have been recognised as a genuine refugee and allowed to stay in the UK in safety. My wife started making the carpet a couple of months ago because she was so pleased the British government is protecting me. She wanted to present the Queen with a gift as a token of her respect that is worth more than money."

Pete Widlinski, team leader of the North of England Refugee Service, has promised the Queen will receive the gift in the coming weeks.