PINK Floyd legend David Gilmour has declared "justice done" after the Home Office failed to throw a US musician out of Scotland.

Percussionist Steve Forman, who also performed with greats such as David Bowie and John Lennon, was told by a judge he had an "exceptionally strong" case to remain.

Dr Forman, 68, is a lecturer at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland with a total annual income, including royalties, in excess of £60,000.

But the Home Office decided to deport him on the grounds that his academic salary was too low to justify remaining in the UK.

An immigration judge heard the case in Glasgow last month and has now ruled in Dr Forman's favour.

Gilmour, who had said Forman's deportation would be a "tragedy", said: "I am absolutely delighted that Steve has won his appeal. Justice has been done."

Dr Forman's lawyer, Fraser Latta, earlier said that Judge John Macdonald had ruled that he could stay following an appeal under the European Convention of Human Rights.

He added: "The Designated Immigration Judge who heard the appeal found that Steve 'presents as not only an exceptional person but an exceptionally strong and compelling case to be allowed to remain here'."

It is understood that the Home Office has two weeks to appeal the decision.

Dr Forman, originally from Los Angeles, said: "I'm giddy and excited. I guess unless I get a call in the next two weeks I can get a visa and we can have one hell of a party."

At last month's hearing, so many of Dr Forman's students and supporters turned up to the hearing they could not be accommodated in the court room.

He said: "I'm looking forward to seeing all of my students. This is something we should all feel empowered by. Glasgow won this round. We all stood up for something that was not just about me personally, but a greater ideal."

A spokeswoman for the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland said: "We are looking forward to seeing Steve continuing his great work with students. We're delighted for him, and that we will continue to see him around our corridors. He will still have the exact same number of hours."

Sandra White MSP, who campaigned for Mr Forman to stay in Scotland, said she hoped the Home Office would decide against appealing.

"It would be crazy to do so as they've wasted enough time and money on this already," she said.

A Home Office spokeswoman said: "Until we formally receive the court's determination it would be inappropriate to comment further on this case."