A CROWDFUNDING campaign to help an EU national afford UK citizenship has raised more than £1,000 in less than two days.

With Britain moving towards Brexit, Eynsham resident Patty Dohle, who was born in Germany, had been fearful about her future and whether or not she would be able to remain in the country.

The 39-year-old bookshop manager and Witney Refugee Action Group member was left overwhelmed when her friends raised cash to help make her a UK citizen and secure her future in the country.

Ms Dohle said: “I’m totally blown away and lost for words.

“I’ve been feeling for months that I don’t know what’s going to happen and my friends just did this without me asking for it. It’s given me such courage and relief.

"People have done a lot more than just donating money. I've always struggled with self esteem and fears about not being important to anyone, but this outpouring of love, of people wanting me here, has completely bowled me over and moved me to tears."

Ms Dohle, who was born in Germany, has lived in the UK for nearly 15 years. She had never considered becoming a UK citizen before, believing that free movement would keep her position here safe.

But following the Brexit vote, Ms Dohle believes her future has been cast into doubt.

She said: "A friend of mine got citizenship a few years ago but I never considered it because I thought I was safe here. But now nobody knows what's going to happen and the Government is using EU nationals as bargaining chips."

A fellow member of Witney Refugee Action Group, which regularly sends aid to refugees in Syria and Europe, saw the stress the situation was having on Ms Dohle, and launched the crowdfunding page to help her afford citizenship.

Without the support, Ms Dohle said it would take her a long time to save enough money to afford it alone.

The page, set up by Kate Mellersh, has already raised £1,300, already topping the £1,121 cost of citizenship. Extra money will be used to support others seeking permanent residence in the country.

Ms Mellersh said: "Patty has been the first to help others in need in the past.

"Now it is our turn to reassure her and others who are fully integrated into British society, have lived here for years, but happen to have been born elsewhere, that they are welcome here."

Recently, Ms Dohle organised a demonstration in the centre of Witney in reaction to President Donald Trump's travel ban, which targeted predominantly Muslim countries.

To support the crowdfunding campaign visit bit.ly/2nCfpe1