A REFUGEE support group is pushing for Syrian families to be re-homed in their town.

Tendring Council has agreed to help re-home two refugee families in the district, and Brightlingsea Refugee Support Group hopes Brightlingsea will be the location of choice.

The group, set up by activist Maria Wilby a fortnight ago, is meeting with Brightlingsea Town Council to discuss the next steps.

It hopes to work with the Town Council and Tendring Council to find private landlords willing to house the two families.

The Home Office will then pay for the first year of each family’s accomodation.

Mrs Wilby, of Samsons Close, said: “I think Brightlingsea is a generous-hearted community and the amount of charity work that already goes on here is remarkable.

“It would be a benefit to the community to have new input and skills and it would be lovely to have some Syrians families move in.

“If we take in two families, we will be taking about four new children.

“Our doctors have got room, our schools have got room, it’s not going to put additional pressure on the town in any way.”

She added: “I don’t think it will be difficult to find private landlords or houses - how many tenants can assure you rent for a year?

Mrs Wilby is part of Refugee Action Colchester and Welcome Refugee Colchester Campaign, which lobbies Colchester Council to take in Syrian families.

She helped raise the topic with Brightlingsea Town Council at its meeting last Thursday.

Mayor of Brightlingsea, Jayne Chapman, said: “We have got no houses to give so the only places they could be housed in are private landlord’s houses.

“The council is prepared to meet with them and discuss the way forward.”

Paul Honeywood, Tendring Council’s cabinet member for Housing, said: “As yet we have not had any further details of the size of the families or when we will be involved.

“It is most likely that we will finding them homes in the private rented sector within the district.”