A KOSOVAN teenager will know whether he can stay in Britain by the end of April next year.

D-day for 18-year-old Edmond Pone, of Blaina, will fall on April 28 next year, when an appeal immigration tribunal sitting in London will consider his case.

The hearing follows on from an appeal Mr Pone and his foster family lodged after an Immigration Appellate Authority decided in August he should return to Kosovo because they said it was no longer a dangerous country.

Mr Pone's foster mother, Julia Gregg, said: "We know where we are going and what we are aiming for now. Edmond is very nervous, as are the rest of us.

"Having something like this hanging over us this Christmas is not very nice, but it is better than having the uncertainty of not knowing the date.

"We just hope to have three reasonable people on the day."

She added: "It is very good news because we know Edmond will definitely be here for Christmas."

Mr Pone has gained the support of his local community, politicians and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams.

He was found stowed away in a van with another asylum-seeker, Krenar Lleishi, who is under 18 and not currently facing the same battle to stay in the UK.

The pair were fostered by Steve Crandon and Julia Gregg, and became a part of the community.