HEREFORDSHIRE will look to welcome Afghan refugees because it's a "warm and big-hearted county", the council has said.

Herefordshire Council said it, along with its partners, had already welcomed 95 refugees since 2016 and had already committed to resettling another 125 before 2025.

A council spokesperson said while nothing had been confirmed, the council would be reviewing the county's suitability to welcoming refugees fleeing Afghanistan.

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A Herefordshire Council spokesperson said: “Herefordshire is a warm and big hearted county. The council and its partners welcomed refugee families numbering 95 individuals between 2016 and 2019, and in January of 2020 made a flexible commitment to resettling a further 125 refugees before 2025.

"Our hearts go out to those who are suffering as a result of recent events in Afghanistan, and although nothing has been confirmed, we will be reviewing the county’s ability to suitably accommodate refugee families, pending further announcements from Government.”

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Over the border, Worcester looked set welcome its first Afghan refugees next month – amid calls the county must do more to help people fleeing Afghanistan.

Worcestershire County Council had previously agreed to rehome the refugees – former interpreters who helped the British Army – but the Bishop of Worcester, Dr John Inge has called on the city and the wider county to do all it can to take in more people who are fleeing following the Taliban takeover.

As part of its commitment to the Afghan Resettlement Programme, Worcestershire will welcome in its first Afghan refugees next month.

The news comes as thousands attempt to flee the capital, Kabul, after the total collapse of the Afghan government and military.

On Monday, heartbreaking images of Afghan people attempting to cling on to escaping US Military aircraft went viral on Twitter.

The Prime Minister will unveil a “bespoke” resettlement scheme for vulnerable Afghans as efforts to get British nationals and other support staff back to the UK continue.

No 10 said Boris Johnson would give more information about the refugee scheme in the coming days, with the policy anticipated to be focused on helping women and girls.

In Afghanistan, British armed forces numbers are to be bolstered to 900, with a further 200 announced by the Ministry of Defence on Monday.

They will be involved in the push to bring UK nationals home and secure the safety of selected Afghans, an effort that has intensified since the Taliban took Kabul following a lightning offensive which shocked the West.