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An Italian grandmother who moved to the UK in 1960 has been told by the Home Office she needs to prove she has the right to stay.

Tina Crolla Stewart is believed to be one of hundreds of Italian Scots who have to apply for permanent residency as a result of Brexit .

Along with many others, Tina, 71, will have to navigate the Home Office system and prove she should be allowed to stay in her home of almost 60 years and not be deported to Italy.

Speaking to the Daily Record, Tina said: “Thank you ­Brexiteers. After living in ­Scotland for 59 years, I have to apply for permanent residence.

(Image: Getty)

“I think 59 years constitutes permanent residence. It’s not as if I thought I would try it for a lifetime to see if I liked it.

“I have worked and paid taxes all my adult life and now I need permission to stay. Absurd.”

Tina is originally from Picinisco, near Rome, and moved to Glasgow where she worked as a legal secretary and raised two children.

Gran-of-three Tina, 71, added: “At the beginning of the Brexit process, I thought we would be fine – but now I’m not so sure.

“I have had meetings with foreign nationals from all over Europe and they feel the same way. We are not safe. It is similar to the Windrush scenario.

“If Britain goes out of the EU without a deal, it is a disaster.

“We will have to apply for settled status on March 29. If there is a deal, we have got until December 2020. We have to apply on an Android phone – which can be tricky for people who aren’t good with ­technology – and hope that we are accepted.

“There is always the danger they will say no. This is my home, I love Scotland. I am married to a Scot, all my roots are here. I never thought that I would ever have to face this disaster.”

Italian immigrants have been arriving in Scotland since the 19th century and their countless descendants are dotted around the country.

Famous faces include Paolo Nutini, who was given a St Christopher medal by Barga in Tuscany for his work in raising its profile abroad.

(Image: Daily Record)

Comedy writer Armando Iannucci’s dad was from Naples while his mum also has Italian heritage and was born in Glasgow.

A spokeswoman for human rights campaigner Positive Action in Housing said: “The hostile environment has come home to roost for Italian Scots living here all their lives – shame on the UK Government.

“Italian Scots, many of them elderly and infirm are facing the nightmare of navigating error-prone Home Office bureaucracy and a crashing app – only ­available for certain types of Android phone – as they try to apply for permanent residence or settled status.”