A NEWPORT politician has written to the Home Office in a bid to help an asylum-seeker stay in the country.

Newport East MP Jess Morden wrote to the immigration department on behalf of 32-year-old Cynthia Orgun.

Mrs Orgun says she fled Nigeria with three of her four children over two years ago after her husband was tortured to death.

After seeking asylum in the UK she applied to the Home Office for permanent residence and was sent to live in Dewstow Street, Newport. But her application and a subsequent appeal was rejected because she could not produce enough evidence to show her life was under threat. She is now awaiting the outcome of a fresh application.

Ms Morden agreed to help Mrs Orgun after meeting her earlier this year. "The letter is to check her case is being managed correctly, to make sure they have all the information before making a final decision," said Mrs Morden. Since her story first appeared in the Argus, Mrs Orgun has been inundated with offers of support from the community, and she is delighted to have the MP on board.

"It makes me feel good that she is continuing to back me," she said. "I'm hoping she will help me get something positive out of this."

If Mrs Orgun is deported her three-year-old twin daughters, Brenda and Brandy, would stay in the UK for medical reasons and Andrew, seven, would remain as his school is here. Her eldest daughter, Courage, 13, is in Nigeria.