A MARCH to welcome refugees to Colchester will pass through the Dutch Quarter to represent the town’s history of helping people fleeing persecution.

Colchester Council is going to find homes for 20 Syrian refugees before Christmas.

Refugee Welcome has organised a march”, on Saturday to show its support for the five families.

The march will start at the Mercury Theatre, in Balkerne Gate, and end in Lower Castle Park.

The route includes the Dutch Quarter, which was inhabited by Protestant weavers fleeing religious persecution in the 16th century.

Maria Wilby, a volunteer and representative of Refugee Action Colchester, said: “Colchester has a history of helping refugees and it still does.

“Afghan translators have moved here and there are already Syrians living in Colchester.” The march was going to start at Colchester North train station, where Jewish children fleeing the Nazis in the Second World War arrived, but was moved to the town centre on police and council advice.

Refugee Welcome, which includes Churches Together, Colchester Quakers, Transition Wivenhoe and representatives from the Jewish and Muslim communities, has created committees to help the Syrians with housing and education.

The board met with Paul Smith, leader of Colchester Council.

He said: “It was a very positive meeting and the board was coming up with lots of different approaches and ways in which they wanted to help the migrants.

“They have set up a string of committees which will help to show the migrants around the town, or give them provisions, or teach them new skills.”

A meeting called Refugees-Fact and Fiction was held at Wivenhoe Congregational Church on Friday.

It was an opportunity for residents to ask questions about the refugees. The panel was up of a Syrian doctor, a member of the Essex Syrian Solidarity Society, and borough councillor Tina Bourne, councillor responsible for housing.

Jean Michel Knutsen, a volunteer at Citizens UK who has helped to co-ordinate the efforts, said: “The event cleared up some points raised by residents using facts, not myths.”

“We heard the testimonies from Syrians already living and working here, it was really touching as we understood why we were there.”

A website, refugeeactioncolchester.org.uk, is being created so the public can offer their help.

Mrs Wilby said: “Lots of people have given donations but they want to do something else, like have the refugees to dinner, do some gardening for them or take them shopping. We are making a website where people can pledge online to help the refugees in any way they can.”