A RETIRED woman hoping to settle in Hereford with her husband of 45 years is this week facing expulsion from the UK.

Maria Summers, 66, has had her permanent visa bid refused by a judge for the second time meaning she cannot settle here indefinitely with her 70-year-old husband, David.

Her current visitor visa expires in August meaning she cannot return until Spring, although this is dependent on immigration officials granting her another temporary stay.

The couple decided to relocate to Hereford from Canada to care for Mr Summers' 95-year-old mother, who has terminal cancer.

He has a UK passport as he was born in this country, but his wife holds a Canadian passport.

Mrs Summers was refused the permanent visa because the judge said she "had not provided sufficient evidence" that she met financial requirements, despite Mrs Summers insisting the relevant documents had been submitted.

"I'm getting tired of fighting at this point," she said.

"I just want them [the authorities] to leave us alone and let us live.

"It makes me feel very unwelcome here. I'm appalled this could happen."

The Summers own a mortgage-free house in Holme Lacy, have savings and Mrs Summers even earns money from consultancy work for an optical company based in Canada.

"We are not asking for anything," added Mrs Summers.

"I read in the papers that thousands of people are coming into Britain and going on to benefits.

"But we own a house. We are not asking Britain to support us."

One plus point for the couple is the authorities' acceptance that they are in a genuine relationship, something that was questioned earlier in the year despite them being married for 45 years.

Mr Summers is a recently-elected county councillor in Herefordshire. He said he cannot understand the situation.

"It's a strange thing they are doing," he said.

"It doesn't make sense.

"We are both old people. We don't know how long we've got. I just want to be with my wife."

Mr Summers says he can't just relocate to Canada because of the health of his mother, who lives with him, and his council obligations.

Should a six month visitor visa be granted for Mrs Summers it would mean should could not return to the UK for six months after it expires.

This means that for the next four years, the couple are only likely to be together for half of that time at best.

Earlier this year they were reunited for the first time in a year when Mrs Summers was finally granted the temporary visa that she is currently using.

They must now apply for permission to appeal the refusal, something they have done in the past week.