A BURY chef faces a crunch immigration hearing to decide whether he can stay in the country.

But Azad Rashid's chances of winning his case were lessened when he was told his solicitor, due to represent him, had gone back to Pakistan.

Azad (21), of South Cross Street, Bury, has been in England for nearly five years and lives with his partner Sarah McAnulty (22).

He had originally been granted permission to stay in England by immigration officials, but the decision was contested by the Home Office.

Now Azad, who works in the kitchens of an Italian restaurant in Bury, has to appear at an immigration tribunal in Manchester today which will give the final decision on whether he can continue to reside here, or face deportation back to Kurdistan.

Sarah said Azad's chances of winning his case has been severely hit by the disappearance of their solicitor Dr Sajid Qureshi, described as an immigration and nationality specialist.

Sarah said: "We have paid £800 upfront for his services and now we are told he has left the country.

"It is too short a time to get someone else, and we haven't any more money to pay for legal help, so I will have to represent him."

Several calls were made by the Bury Times to Dr Qureshi's practice in Cheetham Hill Road, Manchester, but were not answered.

The couple say they have made a complaint to the Law Society about their plight.