A KOSOVAN teenager fighting for the right to stay in Wales is to receive the backing of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, in his asylum hearing.

Edmond Pone, (pictured) 18, fostered by Julia Gregg, 30, and her husband Steve Crandon, 34, from Eureka Place, Ebbw Vale, was due to find out this month if he was allowed to stay in Britain after his initial application for asylum was rejected.

But the agonising wait for Edmond continues with the news that his appeal against the Home Office's decision has been adjourned until the end of June.

However, he has been boosted by the Archbishop of Wales' submission of a character reference in his favour.

Edmond is due to appear before an immigration adjudication panel at Newport magistrates' court on June 30.

He and fellow Kosovan Krenar Lleshi, 18, have spent the last three years in Ebbw Vale, living with Ms Gregg and Mr Crandon after escaping from their war-torn homeland. They endured a tortuous three-day journey to Britain, stowed away in the back of a lorry before eventually being found in Tredegar.

Krenar also faces an uncertain future having only been granted exceptional leave by the Home Office until January 2004.

Ms Gregg, 30, said of Dr Williams, who is a friend of the family: "He's a really good guy and he's has promised he would do everything he can to help us. "Edmond and Krenar have met him loads of times and Rowan is quite happy to be there for them, he has told us that."

Ms Gregg said the strain of not knowing what the future holds has taken its toll on the family and contributed to Mr Crandon recently having to undergo heart surgery after he suffered a heart attack.

She said: "It's been quite mad lately because we've been trying to do so much together as a family because we don't know how long we've got left but we're still trying to be positive.

"It's been very hard on Edmond because he doesn't know what's going to happen. "But they are part of our family and I just want them both to be safe." A spokesman for the Archbishop said yesterday : "He is following the case closely and takes a great interest in how things are proceeding."