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

South African-born Candice Chesher, 18, faced being ordered to leave Britain despite the fact that the rest of her family could stay at their home in Ripon, North Yorkshire.

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

It has 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 has been told to expect no problems when Candice applies for citizenship.

A euphoric Mrs Chesher said last night: "This is wonderful. We can start living like a normal family, looking forward to the future and making plans."

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

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

But Candice - Mrs Chesher's daughter from 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 Mrs Chesher'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 has been absolutely crazy," said Mrs Chesher.

"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.