Winehouse 'applies for St Lucia residency'

Amy Winehouse has applied for permanent resident status in St Lucia, reports the News Of The World.

The 'Valerie' star has been living on the Caribbean island since last December, after escaping London in a bid to battle her addictions.

"Amy loves St Lucia and never wants to leave. She thinks the island has done her the world of good and she's writing more than ever," said one insider.

A St Lucian official is reported to have said that he was "aware of Amy wanting to live here on a permanent basis" and that her application was currently being considered.

The 25-year-old was first linked with a permanent move to the island in April, when her mother Janis admitted that living in the sun had made the singer more "happy" and "relaxed".

However, a former government adviser recently urged the nation's officials to deny her residency status on the basis that she was a "dangerous influence" on the country's youth.