A PREACHER is set to pile the pressure on government chiefs in his crusade to legally marry his partner in the UK.

Reverend Ross Rennie says that he plans to set up a pressure group for "justice in immigration" after his partner Huot Chanthoeun's unsuccessful visa bid.

"My only option will be in the new year if I can get permission for my fiancée to visit the UK, be married at Shrewsbury register office, which they have kept open, and then she returns to Cambodia after a short stay," Rev Rennie said

"I have been forced to go back to Cambodia as I have not seen my fiancée for over a year and I believe this is a disgrace. If I get more resistance regarding the visa from the British government, I will be forced to go to Malaysia to have a civil ceremony to legalise my relationship."

Cambodian law prevents foreign men aged over 50 from marrying Cambodian women.

The Home Office told Ms Chanthoeun on May 10 that her visa application had been rejected due to insufficient evidence that she fulfilled requirements and that there is no right to appeal.

Rev Rennie founded Cambo­dian Comm­unities out of Crisis (CCC) in 1994 after visiting the country for the first time.

CCC's projects include taking children off refuse tips and out of sex trafficking, as well as providing an education for youngsters in the country.

It also aims to fund a $7 million educational facility, the Timothy College and Business Institute.

Rev Rennie said that he would sign an affidavit saying that Ms Chanthoeun – who is a field director for the charity – would come to the UK to get married and then return to her home country.

Rev Rennie added: "I find it a disgrace that people can walk in from Europe, claim benefits and housing in our country and decent honest British citizens have to pay thousands of pounds to corrupt officials in foreign countries to get past the Border Force and legitimise our relationships.

Rev Rennie will be leaving on December 11 and returning early in January.

"I am disgusted at the immigration policy of this nation, as the Home Office is in an absolute mess and Sajid Javid is nothing but an office boy," he added.

"I am very angry that I have been forced into this position. I am planning a pressure group for justice in immigration when I return in 2019."

A Home Office spokesman said: "All visa applications are considered in line with the immigration rules and on the basis of the evidence provided."