Family stranded after saving Ukranian family now returning home

Steve Billington and his Ukrainian wife Iryna Shyhera, from Abbots Langley, will be bringing home Ukrainian nationals Bohdana Shyhera, three-year-old Solomiia and 13-year-old Pavlo after being stranded in France for over a week.

An exclusive Watford Observer report revealed that the local couple hoped to house their Ukrainian family who escaped the conflict, but were turned away at Calais last week and told if they drove to Brussels they would get a visa within 24 hours - despite the centre being closed that day.

Steve Billington with his Ukrainian wife Iryna Shyhera and extended family Bohdana Shyhera and Solomiia aged three and Pavlo aged 13.

They were left shelling out around €200 per day at a hotel for over a week in France while waiting for their travel documents to be approved.

And while Mr Billington initially feared he would be stuck abroad for yet another week, he has now informed the Observer that his Ukrainian family have finally had their visas approved.

The family will all head back home to the Abbots Langley home tomorrow (March 18) to live together while the conflict between Russia and Ukraine plays out.

Last week he pleaded with border control officers to let them through, but they threatened to have them forcefully removed by French police and said they would not be able to enter in the future.

On Monday (March 14), the family got back from Paris and had their biometrics checked. They were told to wait three to seven days before the visas are ready to get picked up.