A grandfather who came to the UK aged seven, before going on to serve in the Grenadier Guards, said he felt "betrayed" when he was refused a British passport.

Tadeusz Polanski, 74, was born in the colony of Southern Rhodesia, a predecessor of modern day Zimbabwe, in 1944.

His Polish parents fled there from the Nazi-occupied, Polish city of Krakow during the Second World War.

The family then moved to Britain and Mr Polanski spent six years in the Army, before going on to run a pet shop in Birmingham for 33 years.

But while his father, mother, brother and sister all became British citizens, Mr Polanski remains limbo more than 20 years after his first application for a passport was refused in 1996.

"Essentially I was told that even though I served in the British Army, I was not British enough to qualify for a passport," he said. "This is my country, I have served in the forces and paid my national insurance and taxes. I feel as though the least I deserve is my British citizenship."

He added that the Home Office told him to apply for a South African passport if he wanted to travel.

Tadeusz Polanski in his army days between 1961 and 1967 (SWNS)

Mr Polanski's situation was raised in parliament by his MP Richard Burden during the debate over the Windrush immigration scandal last week.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd said that she found the case "very surprising" and asked for details to be sent to her personally.

She added: "The default position of the team that I am setting up will be to get the information and to accept people. The only situation where people would not be accepted is on grounds of serious criminality."

The Home Office confirmed they were contacting Mr Polanski about his case.

Mr Polanski said he had lived in "constant fear" that he would not be allowed back into the country if he left to visit family in Australia and Poland.

Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Show all 15 1 /15 Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK The ex-troopship 'Empire Windrush' arriving at Tilbury Docks from Jamaica, with 482 Jamaicans on board, emigrating to Britain. Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Jamaican immigrants being welcomed by RAF officials from the Colonial Office after the ex-troopship 'Empire Windrush' landed them at Tilbury. PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Alford Gardner who arrived in Britain in 1948 on the first Windrush ship to dock in Tilbury, Essex, speaking at his home in Leeds PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Alford Gardner in Leeds shortly after he arrived in Britain in 1948 on the first Windrush ship to dock in Tilbury, Essex PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Gardner was 22 years old when he boarded the ship in Kingston, Jamaica, with his brother Gladstone before they and hundreds of Caribbean migrants called on to rebuild post-war Britain disembarked the ship in Tilbury Docks PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Alford Gardner (right), during his RAF service in 1947 PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK The son of Ruth Williams, a Windrush-generation immigrant, wants to the leave the country after threats of deportation. According to his mother, Mr Haynes applied for British citizenship in 2016 but was rejected, despite Ms Williams having lived in the UK almost permanently since arriving from St Vincent and the Grenadines in 1959. Ruth Williams, 75, said she felt "betrayed" by Britain after the Home Office twice turned down applications for her 35-year-old son, Mozi Haynes, to remain in the country. Ms Williams is understood to have cancer and said she relies heavily on her son for support. PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK The British liner 'Empire Windrush' at port in 1954. Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Ruth Williams, 75, with her British passport. "I feel betrayed and a second class citizen in my own country," she said. "This makes me so sad and the Home Office must show some compassion. "I am unwell and almost 75, I live on my own and I need my son to stay here. I need my family around me and I can’t face being alone. He has applied to the Home Office and been refused twice." PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK From the top, hopeful Jamaican boxers Charles Smith, Ten Ansel, Essi Reid, John Hazel, Boy Solas and manager Mortimer Martin arrive at Tilbury on the Empire Windrush in the hope of finding work in Britain. Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Jamaicans reading a newspaper whilst on board the ex-troopship 'Empire Windrush' bound for Tilbury docks in Essex. Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK After half a century in Britain, Anthony Bryan decided it was time to go abroad. But the decision set off a nightmare that saw him lose his job, detained twice and almost deported to Jamaica. AFP/Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Jamaica-born Anthony Bryan poses outside his home in Edmonton, north London. Now 60 and a grandfather, Bryan thought the issue could be resolved swiftly, as he legally moved to Britain with his family as part of the Windrush generation of Caribbean migrants after World War II. In 1948, the ship Windrush brought the first group of migrants from the West Indies to help rebuild post-war Britain, and many others followed from around the Commonwealth. A 1971 law gave them indefinite leave to remain, but many never formalised their status, often because they were children who came over on their parents' passports and then never applied for their own. AFP/Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Three Jamaican immigrants (left to right) John Hazel, a 21-year-old boxer, Harold Wilmot, 32, and John Richards, a 22-year-old carpenter, arriving at Tilbury on board the ex-troopship 'Empire Windrush', smartly dressed in zoot suits and trilby hats. Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Newly arrived Jamaican immigrants on board the 'Empire Windrush' at Tilbury in 1948. Getty

"That's my worry, this is my home, I don't want to be pushed out," he said. "I am getting too old apply for another passport from a different country. You serve for your country and take part in ceremonies for the Queen, pay taxes only for this.

"I feel betrayed, I feel like they've gone back on their word.

He added: "There are probably more cases out there like mine, people who couldn't help how they were brought here."

Mr Polanski, who lives in Birmingham, has been married to his wife Patricia for 50 years and now has three children and four grandchildren.

"I had made my whole life here, it's just devastating really," he said.

During his time in the Grenadier Guards he was posted in Germany and Cyprus and took part in the Changing of the Guard and Trooping of the Colour ceremonies.

He continues to treasure photographs and certificate of service with the army between 1961 and 1967.

A Home Office spokesman said: “The Home Secretary has been clear, this is about people who have built their lives here in the UK and contributed so much to our society. We don't want them to feel unwelcome or to be in any doubt about their right to remain here and she has apologised unreservedly for any distress caused.

“The vast majority will already have documentation that proves their right to be here. For those that don't, we have established a new dedicated team to quickly help them get the documentation they need and ensure this is resolved as soon as possible.