London, Mar 28 : The grandmother of Mercy James, the 4-year-old orphaned Malawian girl who Madonna wants to adopt, has pledged to stop the singer from "stealing" her.

The 50-year-old stunner is nearing the end of a long battle to Mercy legally hers.

However, Mercy's grandmother Lucy Chekechiwa, 61, is not too happy with the development.

"Why doesn't this singer pick other children? It is stealing. I want to go to court, I won't let her go," The Sun quoted her, as saying.

The little girl has been living in a Malawi orphanage and Lucy claimed she was hassled by officials there over the adoption.

She said: "They told me when I visited her last month that they want to find a better education and home for Mercy. But I am sticking to the initial agreement that Mercy will return home to me after she reaches six years old."

Madge wants Mercy to be a sister for her adopted son David Banda, three - also from the African country.

The star, who has two other children of her own, is reportedly flying into Malawi tomorrow. (ANI)