A KURDISH refugee, who faces torture and imprisonment if he is sent home, has failed in his latest appeal to stay in the North-East.

Tayyip Oruc arrived in Britain in July 1998 after fleeing Turkey.

He applied for asylum, claiming his Kurdish origins had led to his persecution.

He was initially refused leave to stay in the UK and immediately appealed against the Government's decision to deport him.

But Mr Oruc has now been told his appeal has been refused and his only hope of over-turning the decision is if his barrister finds a point of law on which to object to the decision.

Mr Oruc claims he faces persecution by the Turkish authorities if he goes back to his home land, because of his Kurdish roots.

In December, his mother and father, who still live in Turkey, were beaten with batons. His father died as a result of his injuries.

Pete Widlinski, of the North of England refugee service, has helped Mr Oruc appeal against the British authorities' decision under the Human Rights Act.

He said: "We have thousands of people supporting us and now we must just step up the campaign to help him to stay. We just hope the barrister lodges an appeal.

"Tayip is very upset at the moment but is determined to fight on."

Mr Oruc is living with a Teesside family and has been offered a full-time job.

He also has proof that he has been struck off the Turkish register - so is no longer a Turkish citizen, said Mr Widlinski.