More than 140 people have so far stepped in to help Jakir Ahmed raise vital funds for his legal fees as he fights for the right to be able to stay in the UK.

Twenty-one-year-old Mr Ahmed, who is originally from Bangladesh, grew up in Norwich after he was found, in 2008, in Prince of Wales Road, cold, confused and unable to speak a word of English.

Police believed he had been trafficked into the country and forced to work as a domestic slave.

With the help of his Norwich foster parents, Stephen and Sylvia Nunn, he has built a new life, but for the last few years he has faced an ongoing battle to be allowed to stay in the place he now calls home.

The Home Office wants the former Sewell Park College and City College Norwich student to return to his native Bangladesh, a place where he says he has no known family, and he is currently trying to appeal against a ruling in the authority's favour.

He has turned to the CrowdJustice online funding platform to raise £4,000 for legal costs and there is just under a week left of his campaign.

To date, 141 people have pledged a total of £2,854. Mr Ahmed said people's support had helped to give him hope in his difficult battle. 'It makes me feel more confident with my case that so many people are supporting me to stay in the UK,' Mr Ahmed said.

He said, as more time passes in his battle, the more nervous he gets about what the outcome will be, but he said he was trying to get on with his life as much as he could.

He has a girlfriend of nearly two years, Katarzyna Grabiak, and a full-time job at the airport, but he said it was a struggle to meet his legal costs, and so every penny people pledge to his campaign means a great deal to him. 'It's a big struggle financially. Everyone's help is really helpful to me. So many people have shared the fundraising page and I would like to say a big thank-you to everyone,' he said.

A Home Office spokesman has previously said all applications are considered on their individual merits and in accordance with the immigration rules.

Last year, we reported how more than 2,500 people signed a petition calling for Mr Ahmed to be allowed to stay in the UK.

To pledge support to Mr Ahmed's fundraising campaign, visit https://www.crowdjustice.co.uk/case/justice-to-stay/