A grieving father faces missing his daughter's funeral after being denied entry to the UK.

Franklin Vernon, who is Jamaican, has pleaded with the Home Office to reverse its decision so he can be present when Mainque, 44, of New Addington, is buried on Monday.

Miss Vernon, known by her family as Rose, died suddenly in her Headley Drive home four weeks ago. No cause of death has yet been formally established but she is thought to have died of natural causes.

Her father, 63, of St Anns, Jamaica, applied for a visa two weeks ago so he could travel to Croydon to attend the funeral and support his daughter's two devastated children.

But UK Visas and Immigration wrote to Mr Vernon on Tuesday to inform him his application had been rejected.

The dad-of-nine remains in the dark about the reason for the refusal and was told he would not find out until his papers are returned.

The heartbroken granddad, who drives tour buses for a living, said: "On the funeral day I don't know what to do, knowing my daughter is going to be buried and I'm not there.

"I was supposed to go to work today and I couldn't because I was so stressed out. I'm not sleeping at night because I'm just thinking about it.

"I had her picture on the dresser in my room and I turned down the picture because every time I see it it reminds me of what's going on."

Jamaican-born Miss Vernon, who worked as a carer in a Cheam nursing home until illness forced her to stop in 2010, was found dead by her daughter Nicolette Samuels, 21, and son Rouche McQueen, 15.

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Mainque Vernon was found dead by her children

They speak to their grandfather every day since their mother's death.

Mr Vernon said: "I can't even go to see my grandchildren when their mother is dead.

"All I wanted was to bury my daughter and spend two weeks with my grandchildren. That's all I need."

The Home Office told Mr Vernon on Tuesday he would receive his documents and a full explanation of his application's rejection within 72 hours. Until then, he is unable to appeal.

He said: "I fail to understand why [it was rejected] because I have been to England, I have never overstayed and I have never committed an offence either here or there.

"I don't want to live in England. If I lived in England I'd have to work for somebody.

"In Jamaica I'm self-employed, I have two houses, I have my children. Why would I want to come to England to live and leave my children behind?"

Even if he did appeal, his application may not be reassessed in time for Miss Vernon's funeral at Queen's Road cemetery in Thornton Heath on Monday.

Her father said: "My daughter was one of the sweetest persons in the world. Who am I going to talk to know when I have problems? She was my first daughter. She was everything to me."

The Home Office said it could not comment until Mr Vernon had received a full response to his application.