OVERJOYED William McLeod has finally married his Thai bride after a 14-month battle to be together.

Oilfield Engineer Mr McLeod, 52, had lived in Thailand for nine years before he was deported from the country following a mix-up over his legal allowance of cigarettes.

It left Noi, 33, his girlfriend of four years, to bring up her daughter Nungnew, alone.

She has spent the past year battling with the British Embassy for a visa to join her partner, in Newcastle.

He was not given the chance to say goodbye to her, but never gave up hope that they would be together.

They are now fighting to bring four-year-old Nungnew, who is being cared for by Noi's parents, in a remote village, to Britain.

Mr McLeod said: "We both refused to give up hope and it is because of Noi's determination, fighting for a visa at the British Embassy in Bankgkok, that we are together. She was finally accepted on her third application.

"When we saw each other for the first time at Heathrow airport it was like the parting of the Red Sea, we ran and threw our arms around each other.

"Getting married has been a dream come true, It was a fantastic day with close family and friends. Noi looked beautiful.

"I always maintained that I had done nothing wrong and should never have been sent home," he said.