An Arbroath woman has thanked the community for its overwhelming support as she starts the new year as a UK resident.
The Courier recently told how Angela Smith, 46, of Arbroath, has been given residency for the next five years following an 18-month battle with the Home Office.
The Angus Council worker, originally from the US, received the residence card as she got ready to spend Christmas with partner Matthew Tribble and her daughter Ceilidh.
She said: “The fight should never have found its way to me.
“Thanks to the continued prodding of Councillor Donald Morrison and my solicitor Jamie Kerr, they finally issued my card on Christmas Eve.
“It has been a very long, stressful and expensive battle, which could not have been won solely on my own.
“Therefore, I would like to humbly and graciously thank everyone who has helped to win this battle.
“My partner Matthew has paid for my lawyer, supported Ceilidh and I financially and offered an enormous amount of emotional support and unconditional love.”
Angela said her daughter has shown a great amount of dignity during the stress and she is extremely proud of her.
“The amount of supportive letters I received when this began was positively overwhelming,” she said.
“The support offered from the local community in Arbroath, Tayside and many other places in Scotland, I was reminded how fortunate I am to have been adopted by such a lovely community.
“The response from strangers and friends alike has warmed my heart. Angus Council has been very understanding, so my thanks must go to them as well.”