THE sister of a woman who died during childbirth at a Hampshire hospital flew home last night after being ordered to leave the country.

She had come to England to help fer brother-in-law after the the death of her sister Jasmine Pickett, 29.

She was one of two mothers who died from a rare infection just days after giving birth at Winchester's Royal Hampshire County Hospital, last December.

Her sister Nerissa, 24, who is a trained nanny, came to Britain from her home in The Philippines to help widower David Pickett with the pressures of becoming a father and dealing with the tragedy.

By caring for her young nephew during the day, she has enabled Mr Pickett, of Pennington Close, Colden Common, to continue working.

But immigration officials told Nerissa she must travel to Heathrow and leave the country by 8pm last night.

Officials say she must return home because she does not have a British work visa.

But she is not being paid by Mr Pickett, and there had been hopes the Home Office will not carry through on its threat to deport her if she doesn't leave Britain voluntarily.

But last night she boarded a plane and flew home.

Mrs Pickett died on Christmas Eve, after giving birth to Christopher - her first child - on December 21.

It was revealed her death, from severe pneumonia, was caused by complications related to a group A streptococcal infection.

She died just a day after mother-of three Amy Kimmance, 39, the head of maths at Winchester's St Swithun's School, died from fatal toxic shock syndrome caused by the same infection.

Mrs Kimmance had also given birth on December 21, to a daughter named Tess.

Hospital chiefs launched an investigation into the deaths, but insisted at the time they were a tragic coincidence.