KOSOVAN teenager Edmond Pone today tells of his hell as he waits for the letter that will tell him when he must leave Britain.

But he says he has still not abandoned hope of staying in the Valleys.

Mr Pone, 19, who lives in Blaina, says he expects to receive the Home Office letter in the next couple of weeks - and believes he will then be given a few weeks to leave the country.

But he is adamant that while he has the support of his foster family and the community, he will never give up hope of staying in Wales.

The teenager, who has won the hearts of local people, also revealed how worried he is at the thought of being deported to Kosovo, with no family there, nowhere to live and no job.

Mr Pone was discovered hiding in a lorry in Tredegar five years ago after being stowed away by his family, who wanted him to find a better life abroad.

He was fostered by Ebbw Vale couple Julie Gregg and Steve Crandon.

But in April an independent tribunal rejected his case for staying in Britain and Mr Pone decided not to appeal again.

"I was told there were no grounds to do so," he said. "But I have not given up hope - I never will while I have such support from my foster family and from the community.

"I have already lost one family. I do not want to lose another. I will also miss my friends and I will miss this country - I love Wales, and especially the Valleys.

"The people here have been so caring. Every time I go out, someone says how sorry they are and how they wish that I could stay."

Mr Pone, who is studying to become a bricklayer at Ebbw Vale college, also works voluntarily at flats owned by the NCH charity in Blaina.

A Home Office spokeswoman said procedures for people leaving the country after being told they have no right to remain varied, depending on individual cases.

Those who accepted they had to leave would probably be unescorted, while immigration officers were likely to be involved in other cases.