THE Hampshire mother at the centre of a tug-of-love struggle to secure the return of her four-year-old son is counting the days until he comes home.

Tracey Cetin, from Romsey, now knows Josh will definitely be coming back to Britain after a Turkish court ruled he should be brought back to this country.

Josh was taken to Turkey by his father Mehmet at the beginning of the year, with Tracey's consent.

But he failed to bring the child back in time for him to start school at the beginning of September.

Ever since, Tracey has been fighting for his return - and in a desperate move, she even travelled to Turkey to snatch her son back.

As the Daily Echo reported on Tuesday, Tracey, 31, has just returned from Turkey where she attended court to argue that Josh should return to the UK.

Under the terms of the Hague Convention, children have to be allowed to return to the country they have lived most of their lives - and only then can a decision on their future home be made.

She said: "It's 100 per cent certain he is coming back - it's just a question of when. It's a pity it doesn't look like it will be in time for Christmas - but we will just have to delay our celebrations.

"He's not back with me yet - I have to wait 15 days to see if Mehmet appeals. If they proceed with that it could take another six to eight weeks. But, come what may, he's coming home."

Tracey cannot afford to visit her son again before Christmas but she will speak to him on the phone.

She added: "While I was out there it was lovely to see Josh. I spent Saturday with him and when he saw me he shouted: 'Oh my Mummy!'

"Mehmet and I are on speaking terms now. We both want Josh - Mehmet knows he has lost but he is trying to hang on for as long as possible.

"I've got nice memories of Josh to keep me going - and I've got some more photos of him."