Southend Council has issued a rallying cry for private landlords to come forward and help support Afghan refugees.

With Afghan’s fleeing their home country as it fell to the Taliban, the UK is preparing to welcome up to 20,000 refugees.

And Southend’s council leader Ian Gilbert has praised the generosity of the borough’s residents who have got in touch in recent weeks enquiring how they can help.

The council says it is in the process of setting up a direct contact point for those wishing to support refugees while its leader called on private landlords to come forward and offer support.

Cllr Gilbert said: “The events in Afghanistan are shocking and of course our thoughts are with the people of Afghanistan at this time. The council has been, and continues to be supportive of the resettlement of families displaced from countries such as Syria and Afghanistan.

“Like most councils we are keen to support the recently announced scheme, and are currently looking at how best we can do this and to what extent we are able to balance the needs of those being displaced by the crisis in Afghanistan with those of other people who need housing in our borough.”

He added: “We are so proud of the local community, with various groups contacting us offering their support for Afghanistan refugees. We are continuing to work with the Government to plan how best we can support any refugees, but if any private landlords are keen to offer their support, we would welcome their input.”

The Government has launched a plan dubbed Operation Warm Welcome to help Afghans and their families rebuild their lives in the UK.

The Government says this is part of efforts to “ensure that those who worked closely with the British military and UK Government in Afghanistan, and risked their lives in doing so, get the vital health, education, support into employment and accommodation they need to fully integrate into society.”

This will include setting up a “central portal” where offers of support, such as jobs and donations of clothing and toys, can be registered.

Free English language courses will also be provided.

It comes after £5 million was given to councils to provide housing support, and vaccinations were offered to everyone arriving as well as access to mental health and trauma support.

It has pledged to take up to 20,000 Afghan refugees, with as many as 5,000 in the first year, under what the Home Office claims will be “one of the most generous” resettlement schemes in the UK’s history.