NEGOTIATIONS are in place for Colchester to welcome more Afghan refugees after their desperate attempts to flee their home nation.

Colchester Council is engaging in talks with the Ministry of Defence to negotiate the use of a further ten MoD properties for refugees.

If approved, these properties could be available as soon as next month and will be prioritised for the remaining families in the three bridging hotels.

It comes as Essex County Council revealed further homes for Afghan refugees have been found across the county.

It follows ongoing work by the council’s Afghan Refugee Task Force to help resettle those who have fled the war-torn country.

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Colchester has welcomed refugees since chaos ensued in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of Western forces.

A hotel on the outskirts of the town confirmed to the Gazette it has taken on a number of families, however, it requested this was not made public due to safety concerns.

Kate Khan, of Refugee Action Colchester, has welcomed the news more Afghan families will be given a fresh chance at life.

She said: “It’s good news we are having more families coming here and accommodation is being found for them. Obviously it is a massive positive.

“It’s great as a community in Colchester we have welcomed refugees with open arms and continue to support them.”

Now a further five housing offers are in the process of being made to families across the county as councils in Essex continue to make positive progress in securing suitable housing which meets the needs of Afghan families.

Another two families are also now in homes and resettlement support has commenced.

This means, across Essex County Council’s patch, there are six families who have started their new lives.

The council’s leader, Kevin Bentley, said he is “delighted” more people will be receiving help.

He added: “I am delighted soon even more families will be settling into their new homes across our great county and look forward to building on our progress as a Task Force.”