Australian immigration officials have stepped in to ensure a 96-year-old blind widow will not be deported back to Scotland.

Christina Grant and her family were distraught when they were told the elderly dementia sufferer would be sent back to Britain after her visa expired.

But Department of Immigration officers have now said they 'happy to work' with the pensioner's relatives to 'resolve' her situation.

Devastated relatives claimed Christina Grant, 96, pictured, was told to leave Australia after making a 'common mistake' with her visa

Pictured: Ms Grant enjoys a day out after moving from Scotland to her new home in Australia

Ms Grant had travelled to New South Wales two years ago, after her carer son and husband died.

She moved in with her other son Allan and his wife Diane became her day-to-day carer.

But after Ms Grant made a 'common mistake' with her visa application, her family claimed they were ordered to send her back to Scotland or face 'consequences'.

Speaking earlier this week, Diane Grant said: 'They have not officially ''kicked her out'' but left us with no option and the threat of doing so if she is not on plane by the 26th (of July).'

However, today a spokesman for the Department of Immigration explained this was not the case and urged the Grant family to contact them as soon as possible.

He said: 'We have no plans to remove Christine Grant and we are willing to resolve her situation.

Ms Grant holidayed in Vanuatu with son Allan, right, and daughter-in-law Diane, pictured here

'She is currently an unlawful citizen because her existing visa has expired.

'She needs to put a visa application in so that we can consider all of her circumstances.

'It's true that she has been told she can't remain in Australia on her current expired visa but we are happy to work with her and her family.

'The family is understandably confused in their thinking because they are speaking through the media instead of directly to us.

'One option could be that she applies for a visa and we can then grant her a bridging visa that will keep her lawful whilst her visa application is being considered.

'Yes, health is a consideration but there is no law saying that a 96-year-old cannot apply for a visa. Also, if she is unfit to fly we cannot force her to fly or deport her by any other means.

Pictured: Ms Grant, enjoys a drink with friends as she unwinds at her family's home

'We urge the family to speak to us directly through the Australian Immigration Department in the UK so we can glean the full facts and work with the family to resolve Christine Grant's visa status.

'There are no plans to deport her and its incorrect to say she will be refused a visa because of her health. Health is only one of a number of considerations but we can't know her exact circumstances until she applies for a new visa.'

Mrs Grant had originally claimed that her mother-in-law was being deported because of a blunder with paperwork.

According to the elderly woman's visa she had to leave the country once a year for it to be continued.

She recently went on an international cruise to Vanuatu, in the South Pacific, but it 'didn't count' because it was a 'round trip cruise'.

Pictured: Ms Grant relaxes on a chair outside her family's home. The pensioner moved there two years ago from her native Scotland

Pictured: Ms Grant enjoys a pamper session at a beauty salon in New South Wales

Mrs Grant said: 'These cruises are not considered ''departing Australia'' by the immigration department (even) travel agents have not been made aware of this.

'Nothing on visa to indicate this and back then could not find any information about this fact on immigration website.'

Mrs Grant said 'there was no fine print' that the family were just 'supposed to know a trip to Vanuatu by boat wouldn't count as leaving the country'.

'I spoke with at immigration along the way tell me that this was a common 'mistake' people made', she added.

Mrs Grant said her 'heart is breaking' watching her beloved mother-in-law struggling with the idea she needs to leave.

'(She is) not happy about leaving the home her son has provided for her here in New South Wales.'