WORCESTERSHIRE will start to become home to a number of resettled Aghan interpreters who are now refugees due to their support for the British Army in the country.

Worcestershire county council chief Paul Robinson confirmed the council's leadership had pledged to support refugees coming into the county, both through the UK Resettlement Scheme and the Afghan Relocation and Resettlement Policy, with the first family set to arrive here next month.

A council spokesman said: "Worcestershire County Council is doing all it can to help ensure those who resettle do not walk alone when they arrive in the county.

"We cannot walk alone is also the theme for this year’s campaign and encourages everyone to reach out and connect with someone new.

"This is something those who have resettled here in Worcestershire have done with great success.

"Since 2016, Worcestershire have welcomed over 100 Syrian Refugees across all of the districts within the county, and the council will continue to welcome further families over the coming months."

The issue of resettling the thousands of Aghan citizens who provided support to British and American forces in the country has been on the government's agenda for a number of years.

Many of them face torture and death at the hands of the Taliban for their support.

The policy, which has been in place since April 1, will see any current or former locally employed staff who are assessed to be under serious threat to life offered priority relocation to the UK regardless of their employment status, rank or role, or length of time served.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said he was determined that no one who supported the UK’s armed forces should see their life “put at risk” by the withdrawal.

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

“We owe a debt of gratitude to our interpreters and other locally employed staff who risked their lives working alongside UK forces in Afghanistan,” said the Cabinet minister.

“We have always made clear that nobody’s life should be put at risk because they supported the UK Government to promote peace and stability in Afghanistan.

“As we withdraw our armed forces, it is only right we accelerate the relocation of those who may be at risk of reprisals.

“The Home Secretary and I are going to do everything to make sure we recognise their services and bring them to safety. It is the right thing to do.”