BURNLEY and Pendle has reaffirmed its commitment to refugees - after housing another 15 families this summer.

Since Syria was plunged into civil war over six years ago, millions of people have been displaced - with half of those affected being children.

And Pendle Council has fulfilled a pledge to re-house families from war-torn Syria.

After committing to re-house 20 families, Pendle Council took 10 families in last year and have now fulfilled their agreement, after a further 10 arrived in July, as part of the Syria Resettlement Programme.

While Burnley council has also re-housed five refugee families this summer, with additional similar numbers coming to the town in 2018 and 2019.

Alongside this, there would be an increase in the number of houses being lived in by asylum seekers, from the current number of ten properties to a total of twenty properties in 2017.

It follows the government’s commitment to find places for 20,000 people by 2020.

Councillor Mohammed Iqbal, Leader of Pendle Council, said the authority are 'proud' to have fulfilled its pledge to re-house 20 families from war-torn Syria.

Cllr Iqbal said:“As part of the Syrian Resettlement Programme we’ve made a huge difference to people, including young children, who’ve suffered the harrowing effects of the war.

“I’d like to thank everyone involved in giving the families a warm welcome, for providing clothes and furniture, and for continuing to support them here as they settle into our community."

Councillor Joe Cooney, leader of the Conservative group on Pendle Council, said: "The government agreed to take in 20,000 refugees by 2020 and Pendle is one of the council's trying to help the council achieve this.

"They've come from a war-torn country and it's the right thing to do to rehouse them."

Councillor Mark Townsend, leader of Burnley Council, said: “We have already made a commitment that the town will play its proper part in helping resettle refugees, and will do so as part of a co-ordinated approach across Lancashire."

Last year, Lancashire resettled 30 families, with it resettling 36 families this year.

The expectation is that, between 2018 and 2019, some 60-70 more families will arrive, bringing the total to about 135-140 families by 2020.