'I feel British because of the community we have'

Fraidon Sharifi and his wife Palwasha become British citizens today - joining their children as UK passport holders.

The couple now own three grocery shops and an internet cafe after coming to Britain from Afghanistan in 1993.

For Mr Sharifi, 30, it will confirm his feeling that he is part of British life.

"I feel British, to be honest, because of the community we have here, which is really good," he said.

"I have my life here, I got married here and have my own business."

Mr Sharifi came to Britain to study in computers after selling some of his family's land in Afghanistan.

He claimed asylum as political conditions in his native country changed, and in 2000 he and his wife were granted indefinite leave to remain.

"To be honest, we had no plans to stay for such a long time," he said.

The couple have two daughters - Munilla, seven, and Makkah, who is 10 months old - and a son, Hasib, five. All are British citizens by birth.

Mrs Sharifi, 26, who has relatives who lived under the Taliban, said: "I like everything in London because I'm a Muslim and I wear the scarf and different clothes, which is normal here."