WILTSHIRE is to play its part in helping thousands of Syrian refugees settle in Britain.

Prime Minister David Cameron announced this afternoon Britain would take 20,000 Syrians who are fleeing from the Assad regime and rebel groups.

He said the country would accept refugees from camps in Syria and neighbouring countries over the next five years but would not accept those on European soil already in order to try to prevent more making the dangerous sea crossings.

Responding to the announcement, Salisbury MP John Glen said: "The hope is that Wiltshire will take a generous allocation from the national scheme that the Prime Minister has announced.

"I have been inundated with a number of offers from constituents and city councillors who are keen for Salisbury to make a significant contribution to Wiltshire's numbers.

"The details of this will become clear in the days ahead.

"My personal view is that the emphasis should be on the most vulnerable - children and women - and not necessarily those who are fit enough to be able to get over to Europe on their own.

"I know that Alabare, Wiltshire Council and the Church are thinking very carefully on how to receive a meaningful contribution in south Wiltshire."

Funding for their accommodation is to come from the Department for International Development budget.

Wiltshire Council will offer support to help refugees and work has already begun making those plans.

A council spokesman said: "In Wiltshire we will always protect the vulnerable and we want to offer support to help refugees. We have been monitoring the international situation whilst proactively planning both the short-term and long-term actions for us to provide help.

"We have been examining the implications for Wiltshire, including the impact upon health, housing, education and the economy and will work closely with our partners to ensure we are fully prepared to welcome refugees.

"We will work with the Government to play our part, ensuring that any refugees who come to Wiltshire are given the support they need to become self-sufficient.

"We want to thank all those people from our communities who have been doing what they can to offer help – we would urge them to get in touch with international aid organisations such as the Red Cross, Unicef and Oxfam."

Angus Macpherson, Police and Crime Commissioner said: “I think we all have a human duty to do what we can to alleviate the suffering by looking after those in such urgent need.

“Working on the basis that ‘many hands make light work’, I hope that all of us in Wiltshire and Swindon will seek to do something for these poor families and orphaned children.”