An asylum seeker is taking his Sussex bride back to Albania so he can apply to return to Britain legally.

Ruzhdi Nela was smuggled into Britain in the back of a container lorry.

The 19-year-old, who works on a building site, met and married Brighton woman Amy Nela, 25, who is now expecting their child.

The couple, from Hove, hope immigration authorities will look favourably on someone who has a home, a job, and is married to a British woman expecting his child.

After three years of trying to stay in Britain on the grounds that his family is connected to Albania's democracy movement, Mr Nela was told last month his appeal to stay in Britain had been rejected and he would be deported.

Since the couple's plight was featured in The Argus last month, they have appeared on national television and their story has appeared in national newspapers and magazines.

They have also received support from their MP, Ivor Caplin, and have been given legal advice on Mr Nela's bid to remain in Britain.

One development was a telephone call from Mr Nela's father, who was forced to flee Albania because of persecution for his views.

Mr Nela had not heard from his father since arriving in Britain as a scared 16-year-old asylum seeker, who was arrested after jumping from a lorry outside Dover.

He believed his father was in hiding, though there was a risk he might be dead.

But he called his son to tell him he had been hiding in Colombia and had now returned to Albania.

Mrs Nela, who works as a care support worker for disabled adults, plans to travel to Albania with her husband in a few weeks.

There she will meet his parents and help her husband complete his application to re-enter Britain legally.

She will then return home before Christmas in the hope her husband will soon follow.

She said: "What we are planning to do is a bit risky but we hope it will be all right. It is a bit scary but we know the risks.

"Even if Ruzhdi was allowed to remain in Britain for a while, he would always be classed as someone with refugee status.

"By going out to Albania and applying to come in legally, we are hopeful he will be allowed to return to bring up our child."

A Home Office spokeswoman said: "Even if someone has married while in this country, that does not automatically make them a legal resident.

"If he applies to enter this country legally from Albania his case will be considered."