A FILM which highlighted the dangers for child refugees attracted considerable attention from Corsham residents and councillors on World Children's Day this week.

More than 70 people watched the Born in Syrian film at the specially organised event by the Wiltshire For Refugees Unicef group at the Pound Arts Centre on Monday.

Despite being home to 87 Syrian refugees, Wiltshire is campaigning for change to allow refugee children whose parents have died to be reunited with their remaining family in the UK.

Kirsty Hall, who attended the event, said: “Although the news frequently features the refugee crisis, it still feels quite detached from our everyday lives. However, Unicef’s ‘Born in Syria’ film really brought it home.

"I have two young boys and the thought of them not being able to wash for a month, to walk miles and miles to get to the nearest check point and having to sleep outside for nights on end is awful. We can’t pretend it’s not happening and I would urge anyone to support Unicef by signing their petition to help child refugees.”

The Wiltshire group has been working closely with MP Michelle Donelan on highlighting the issue in the House of Commons, something which she has been praised for.

"We need to recognise that refugee children can find themselves in desperate situations, often with no living parents," Liberal Democrat candidate Helen Belcher said. "It is clear that Chippenham’s Conservative MP cares about refugees, and I would urge her to support transferring the Dublin III protocol into UK law, providing necessary protection for vulnerable children fleeing from unimaginable horrors."

To sign the petition visit www.unicef.org.uk/keeping-families-together-petition or visit Wiltshire for Refugees on Facebook for more information.