Petition to keep Wolverhampton student in UK signed by 5,000 people

Brian White won a place at Oxford University last year – just four years after arriving in this country from Botswana.

But his place could be snatched away from the 21-year-old because of uncertainty over his status in the UK which could see him removed from the country.

Brian's friend Luke Wilcox set up a petition on the change.org website calling for him to remain in the country.

It has been backed by stars online, including Caitlin Moran, Sathnam Sanghera and Frankie Boyle.

Luke, 19, said: "I've been overwhelmed really, it's been crazy and unbelievable really.

"We're just astounded, it's been brilliant.

"We thought we would get support from people who know Brian but we've had people from around the country and around the world – including places like Saudi Arabia."

He lived in an orphanage in Zimbabwe until the age of six when a missionary, impressed by the child’s intellect, introduced him to British-born Peter White who was working in that country and had two children by his Zimbabwean wife.

Mr White first fostered and then adopted Brian who was 12 when he moved with his new family to Botswana.

A few years later British citizen Mr White, his two sons and wife returned to live in Penn, leaving Brian in Africa with a family friend until he could get permission to enter the UK.

He moved to Wolverhampton aged 15 and won his place at Oxford last August.

Then he received the bombshell that he could not get a student grant because his permission to stay in this country had expired.

Former Highfields School student Brian, who scored three A*s and an A in his A-levels last year, said: "It's been completely crazy. I didn't expect it to hit 1,000 as soon as it did and now it's over 5,000.

"I'm happy with anything really, it's amazing."

To sign the petition visit change.org/p/home-office-help-brian-white-remain-in-the-uk-to-take-his-place-at-oxford-university-getbriantooxford