A DESPERATE mum, eager to be reunited with her family in Kidderminster, has been dealt another blow after learning her daughter will not be accepted back into her former school.

Karen Lewis, who currently lives in Brittany, France, after a fresh start in Turkey turned sour, is still battling red tape to be reunited with her family.

The news that her daughter, Stephenie, will not be able to return to Haybridge High School, in Hagley, however, has been a massive disappointment to the family as they try to rebuild their lives.

Mrs Lewis said: "We were originally led to believe both daughters, Stephenie and Zoe, could return to Haybridge but, since then, I've discovered that only Zoe can go, as they have no other places.

"It was both the girls' former school, so we're desperate to get them both back in. Their experience in Turkey has been bad enough, without one of them having to be placed in a different environment and make new friends again.

"It's been contact with friends and their constant support that has kept them going the whole time we were away. They have not been in education for a year now, so it's very important to get them both back in."

The Shuttle/Times & News featured the plight of the Lewis family at the end of June.

Mark and Karen Lewis put out a warning to the public not to be seduced by dreams of a new life in the sun after costs of their apartment in Alanya escalated and they lost money on a business venture.

They were also unable to send their children to school, as they claimed scholarship fees more than doubled.

Mr Lewis, together with Stephenie, 13 and Zoe, 15, currently live in the Kiddermin-ster area as they await Mrs Lewis's return. She has been forced to remain in France for six months due to quarantine regulations delaying the re-entry of their three pet cats and dog into the UK.

The matter will go to an independent appeal panel meeting next Tuesday.

A county council spokesman said: "We understand totally the challenging circumstances the family are in and wouldn't want to cause any extra trouble.

"However, at this stage, we must follow the correct admissions procedure fully and that means that the issue will go to the independent appeal panel on August 29.

"The panel members will deliberate on any special circumstances surrounding an appeal. The panel also has the power to award places over and above the published admissions number.

"Haybridge High School is a very popular school and is consistently oversubscribed. The school keeps a waiting list and there have been successful appeals for this year group in the past."