COUNCIL leader Phelim Mac Cafferty has encouraged residents to "play their part" in alleviating the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.

The leader of Brighton and Hove City Council said he has received "kind and touching offers of support" in recent days and said: "I am being reminded why our residents have hearts of gold."

He said the city stands ready to offer support to refugees fleeing the conflict, and said the council will work with the city's community and voluntary sector organisations to help offer asylum to people fleeing war.

Cllr Mac Cafferty said: "We are proud of our history of providing a welcome to refugees.

"We are lobbying the government to provide asylum to Ukrainian nationals and share the despair that is felt across the nation that they have yet to do so.

"However, the war in Ukraine is another sharp reminder that the asylum system in this country is broken.

"We desperately need a compassionate national response to people - Ukrainian, as much as Iranian, Yemeni, Eritrean and Syrian - fleeing indescribable pain and suffering."

He said there are also a number of local, national and international charities people can support to show solidarity with the people of Ukraine.

Several local charities, such as Voices in Exile, Refugee Radio, Thousand 4 £1000 and the Hummingbird Project, provide direct support to new arrivals in the city from many countries affected by war.

The British Red Cross has also launched a Ukraine Crisis Appeal, along with the Association of Ukrainians in GB, with the UNHCR refugee agency and UN's children's charity UNICEF also accepting donations.

A peace vigil, organised by the Brighton and Hove Interfaith Contact Group, will take place between 8pm and 9pm on March 6 at Hove Methodist Church in Portland Road - with everyone welcome to attend for all or part of the hour.

Cllr Mac Cafferty also said: "We do not - and will never - tolerate hate towards any of our vibrant and diverse communities, no matter what's happening elsewhere.

"We take the safety and inclusion of all our communities seriously. All communities are welcome and all belong."

He urged anyone who has experienced hate incidents or anti-social behaviour, including harassment, to report it.

Those affected can contact the council's community safety team using their online anti-social behaviour and hate incident reporting form, emailing communitysafety.casework@brighton-hove.gov.uk, or calling 01273 292735.

Hate incidents can also be reported to Sussex Police online or by calling 101, or 999 in an emergency.

The war in Ukraine has entered its second week, with Russian forces reportedly controlling the southern city of Kherson.

More than one million people have fled the country since the start of the Russian invasion, the UN has said.