THE leader of a council has called for his area to take in more refugees.

Councillor Warren Morgan, leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, has also urged the Government not to stop its Syrian refugee programme.

He raised his concerns after Downing Street issued a statement saying the Syrian child re-housing programme had been stopped because of claims that local authorities don’t have space to take them in.

Cllr Morgan said: “Last year we were asked by local groups to commit to taking five more families.

“I said we would take ten more, but that we needed the help of people in the local community to do it.

“I would urge anyone who wants to help refugees to support local charities like Brighton Voices in Exile, the Hummingbird Project or Sanctuary on Sea.”

A petition was started more than a year ago by concerned Brightonians who thought the city council could do more to help house refugees, urging Cllr Morgan to act.

The council leader has now asked for landlords who can help to come forward with spare rooms to house refugees and for people considering becoming a foster parent to take in child refugees.

He said: “Without Government funding, the council itself does not have the resources to help, but we will do all we can to coordinate, support and ... assist children who need somewhere safe and secure to live.

“We are a wealthy, peaceful and safe country. The Government promised to take in 3,000 refugees and should honour that promise.

“We have only taken 300, which, given the scale of the crisis, is shameful.

“Brighton and Hove is a City of Sanctuary and we stand ready to do our bit with the help of volunteer families and organisations who can offer support.

“Refugees have given so much to this country in return for safe haven for hundreds of years. It is our duty to take our fair share now.”

City of Sanctuary is a national network, promoting the idea that refugees should be welcomed and their contribution to society celebrated.