THE Libyan couple who sparked controversy after giving birth to sextuplets in the North-East are pleased to be allowed to stay.

Jamal Abuhelfala and his wife, Fawzla, are living in the West End of Newcastle with the three girls and two boys that have survived - Rana, Ahmed, Mohammed, Rahef and Ragged.

They have been embroiled in a row over "scrounging'' and Blyth Valley Labour MP Ronnie Campbell plans to raise the issue in Parliament after the summer break.

Mr Abuhelfala, 38, an oil engineer, is in the region to complete a master's degree at Northumbria University, Newcastle.

The couple broke their silence by speaking to a Sunday newspaper.

Mr Abuhelfala said: "We did not come to this country to get free medical treatment for my wife. I am here to study, and she needs to be with me. We are here for one year, and then we will return to Libya.

"Why can't people be happy for us? If a British woman went to Libya and had six babies everyone would be overjoyed. Her treatment would be free too."

The couple, who have a three-year-old daughter, underwent fertility treatment. Mrs Abuhelfala gave birth at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary earlier this month.

The youngsters, who were born weighing between 12oz and 2lb 4oz, are being kept in an incubator.

Their father has pledged to raise as much money as he can towards the cost of their treatment - which some estimates put at £500,000.