A Chinese cockler who was smuggled into the country to find work is pleading with the authorities not to send him home after he fell in love with an Ulverston woman.

After travelling half way across the world, 42-year-old Wang Long found work and love on the Furness coastline.

But now Mr Long and his Ulverston partner, Anne McTavish, 40, are preparing to put up a fight to stay in the country together.

"We met while I was working in a charity shop in Barrow," explained Ms McTavish. "When he appeared I felt as though I already knew him, as if I had met him before. He would come in to buy bedding and clothes and I would try to help."

But now the couple, who met last October, face a very uncertain future.

"I would like him to stay and he wants to stay but he is an illegal immigrant and we have to try and sort things out," she said. "There is a question-mark over everything and it is a big worry for both of us. He said he would like me to go to China if he has to return but we would have the same problems there."

Mr Long has only one document from immigration officials that states he cannot work, he must reside at an address in the capital and report to an immigration office in London each week. Mrs McTavish is now in contact with officials to see if she can rectify the situation.

During this worrying time the pair also face another difficulty the language barrier.

The couple communicate through a small green pocket translator and Chinese books that Ms McTavish picked up at charity shops.

"We use sign language and a translating machine and books it can be very frustrating but Ling's Mr Long's nickname English is getting better, " she said.

Due to the language problems the Ulverston grandmother is unsure about her partner's background and knows little more than he comes from Shanghai and was smuggled into the country.

"I think he was smuggled into the country by Snakeheads but Ling doesn't really want to speak about it. I do know he owes a lot of money at least £10,000 which he had to pay to get over here. He constantly gets phone calls which leave him very depressed.

"He is not earning enough to send back to his family because there isn't enough work and it leaves him very sad and he misses his family."

Ms McTavish added that her partner, who gets erratic employment cockling on the beaches of Morecambe Bay, should have been out on the February night when more than 20 Chinese cocklers lost their lives at Hest Bank.

"When we saw the TV our hearts dropped to the floor because he said he should have been out that night but he came to see me instead," she said.

"I want to do my best to support him and get everything legal. I would be gutted if he had to go back it upsets me just to think about it. Life has brought us together and it could tear us apart."