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A two-year-old girl faces being deported even though her parents and grandparents all hold British passports.

Lindsay Dutton is fighting to keep her daughter Lucy in the UK after the Home Office gave her 14 days to leave the country.

Lucy's child visitor visa expired in February and her mum was told to apply for the right to remain, but the Home Office rejected the application because the two-year-old has not lived continuously in Britain for seven years.

The toddler does not have an automatic right to stay in the UK as both of her parents were born abroad.

Heartbroken Ms Dutton, originally from South Africa and now living in Swansea, has been left in tears over the "inhumane" decision and has launched a campaign to cover the £3,000 appeal.

(Image: Adrian White)

The 30-year-old mum told the Sunday Express: "It's against human rights what they are doing to us. It's cruel.

"It's heartbreaking to do that to a parent, all I have done the entire week is sob.

"I have broken down in the last few days, I do not know where to turn."

The Home Office sent a letter to Lucy denying her claim because the girl has not lived continuously in the UK for at least seven years, the BBC reported.

The letter claimed Johannesburg-born Lucy "failed to provide evidence of a familial link between yourself and these alleged relatives".

(Image: Adrian White)

It said she had the right to appeal the decision, but must leave the UK within 14 days if she does not.

The letter suggest Lucy return to South Africa with her parents - arguing they would be able to find work there -

Ms Dutton, a tenant liaison officer, settled in South Wales in August 2018 after coming to the UK for a visit.

She has since separated from Lucy's father, Gavin Burls, 34, who now lives in Market Harborough, Leicestershire, the Sunday Express reported.

Neither was born in the UK but both claimed British citizenship through their parents.

Lucy cannot claim citizenship through her parents or grandparents, and her mum claims she has no family members in her native South Africa.

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Ms Dutton said she took out a high-interest loan for just over £3,000 to pay for the application for her daughter to remain in Britain.

She said she is now trying to raise more than £3,000 to fund an appeal that must be paid within four weeks.

She told the BBC that the Home Office's decision was "inhumane" and the family is appealing on the grounds of human rights.

Gower MP Tonia Antoniazzi has lobbied Home Secretary Priti Patel to intervene, calling it a "ridiculous situation".

The Labour MP told the BBC: "This case is incredible, to think that a two-year-old has been refused a visa, it beggars belief.

"This baby has access to two parents here in the UK - her paternal and maternal grandparents are here - it's just heartbreaking to think that the Home Office can expect a two-year-old child and her parents to move back to South Africa."

A spokesperson for the Home Office said: "All applications are considered on their individual merits and on the basis of the evidence available."