Three Gurkha children are waiting to find out if they will be forced to leave Britain after their mother died.

The boys, now backed by Joanna Lumley, came from Nepal to see her in Ashford when she was terminally ill but their six-month visas ran out last Thursday.

They have bought more time by applying to stay on but expect to learn their fate within six weeks

Eldest son Sudhan Gurung, 23, said: "Now that we have applied we are still legal here but we don't yet know if we can stay permanently.

"We want to stay in Britain.

"We have no family in Nepal but we have relatives here and we think we will have a brighter future in this country."

Actress Ms Lumley, now a high profile Gurkha campaigner, has written directly to Immigration Minister and Ashford MP Damian Green pleading for them to stay.

She said: "This is causing much distress to a very worthy family.

"I hope that you might be able to exercise discretion. I hope this may touch you as it has me."

Sudhan and his brothers Sanim, 21, and Mikzong, 15, came over from Nepal in March to be with their widowed mother Anuka, when she was sticken with cancer.

She died on September 19, aged just 46, at Ashford's William Harvey Hospital

Last year Gurkha soldiers won a major victory when the Government allowed those who retired before 1997, and served at least four years, the right to apply to settle in the UK.

Their wives have the same right but not to their adult children.

The Gurungs have now had to apply to the Home Office's UK Border Agency for indefinite leave to remain here.

Mikzong, although still a juvenile, is in the same situation as his elder brothers as he has to apply through them.

Mrs Gurung had arrived in the UK by 2007.

In her last months had been given another year's temporary stay, until March 2011, but no decision had yet been made on a permanent stay by the time she died.

This meant no application could be made by, or on behalf of, her sons, until a decision was made on her stay, which is why they were not able to come over until now.