AFGHANS who worked with British troops could be resettled in north Essex as part of moves to withdraw remaining Western powers from the wartorn country.

The Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy, launched earlier this year, allows the Afghans, who mostly worked as interpreters, to settle in Britain.

More than 1,400 Afghans and their families have already relocated to the UK and hundreds more received funding for education and training.

However, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has approved an acceleration of the relocation scheme amid fears for the safety of those who helped the UK as international troops prepare to leave Afghanistan.

Including the workers’ family members, some 3,000 more Afghans are expected to settle in the UK under the plan.

In 2015, Fresh Beginnings, an organisation based in Colchester, worked to resettle 20 families in the borough while further families were settled in the Tendring area.

Colonel Richard Kemp, who served as the commander of British Forces in Afghanistan from July until November 2003, welcomed the move to protect “at risk” allies.

Mr Kemp, from Colchester, said: “I support the idea of resettling Afghans who helped our forces in Afghanistan and are at risk especially if the country descends into civil war after Western forces withdraw.

“Without these men and women, especially the many interpreters, British forces would not have been able to operate effectively in Afghanistan.

“As well as providing linguistic support and cultural advice, their local knowledge meant they could often identify specific threats.

“Undoubtedly some British soldiers are alive today thanks to their help.”

Mr Wallace said it was “only right” to accelerate the programme, or else those being relocated might “be at risk of reprisals” from the Taliban.

The issue has been in the spotlight since British forces - including Colchester troops - ended combat operations in Helmand in 2014.

Earlier schemes had involved strict criteria on who could apply to live in the UK.

But new Government policy says any current or former locally employed staff assessed to be under serious threat to life will be offered priority relocation to Britain.