A Bournemouth businessman claims he is being denied seeing his baby son growing up after his Filipino partner was refused a visa.

Despite nine-month-old James Crane being born at Poole hospital and having a British passport, Ronald Crane hasn't seen him since last autumn.

Now Mr Crane, 61, from Talbot Woods, is appealing against a decision to refuse his partner Maria Nina Delacruz permission to return to Britain.

He said: "The immigration authorities are ripping my little family apart."

Grandfather Mr Crane met Maria, 20, in Manila in October 2006. "I was on holiday when I bumped into her; it was pure chance.

"She is an incredible, intelligent woman who works as a secretary and lives in a remote little village. I travelled back to see her that Christmas.

"That's when James was conceived; we didn't realise Maria was pregnant when she arrived in England at the end of February after obtaining a six-month visa.

"She was due to go back to the Philippines when the visa expired but the doctor said she was too heavily pregnant to fly."

James was born on October 2 last year after Maria secured a visa extension until the end of the month.

On October 27 Mr Crane flew back to Manila with his new family. "We complied with the original visa and thought another six-month visa would be rubber-stamped."

However a spokesman for the British Embassy in Manila said the application had been refused because the previous visa had been obtained "by deception".

Mr Crane said: "They said Maria had failed to disclose that she was pregnant but there was no deception involved.

"We paid the birth fees of £1,444 so it didn't cost the taxpayer anything. I have a large property portfolio so Maria wouldn't have to claim benefits or work; our son would want for nothing."

In correspondence to Mr Crane, entry clearance officer Mrs PJ Garnham said: "I am satisfied that any perceived interference with your right to family life is proportionate to the aim of maintaining effective immigration control."

Now Mr Crane's hopes are pinned on an appeal to be heard at an asylum and immigration tribunal in Wales on August 14.