THE relatives of two Malawian orphans face an anxious wait to see if the youngsters will be granted British residency after an immigration wrangle.

Last October News Shopper reported how David and Elizabeth Lee were facing difficulties getting permission for their nephew and niece, Bruno Kajombo, aged nine, and 10-year-old sister Stella, to live in the UK.

They are currently being cared for by their unemployed uncle in Malawi and living off money provided by the Lees.

But headteacher Mr Lee, 45, and his Malawian wife, 35, want to raise the children in their home in Erlanger Road, New Cross Gate.

Mr Lee sent an application for two visas to the immigration service at the British High Commission in the Southern African nation in August last year.

But the application was turned down because the authorities argued the children could be cared for by a relative in their homeland.

Immigration officers failed to change their minds, despite the couple appealing and getting solicitors involved.

On January 17, Mr Lee attended an asylum and immigration tribunal at Croydon Magistrates' Court.

Mr Lee said: "We've been told a decision will be made within the next two to four weeks.

"We just hope they allow them to come and live with us.

"They have been through a lot and need a stable environment to be brought up in."

The children were left orphaned following the death of their mother Helen, 33, who was killed in a car accident in May last year.

Their father died after succumbing to Aids-related illnesses in 2003.

The Lees' plight contrasts to that of popstar Madonna, who was criticised for adopting Malawian David Banda with apparent ease.

Mr Lee added: "We don't even want to adopt. We are just asking for dependent members of our family to come and live with us.

"It was always agreed we would care for the children if anything happened to their parents."