UNACCOMPANIED children coming into the UK should be supported to live in Wiltshire through a resettlement scheme, say campaigners Wiltshire for Refugees.

They are backing a bid to bring 10,000 refugee children in the UK over the next 10 years and want to see Wiltshire Council commit to providing support for 10 vulnerable children a year over the next decade.

Funded by central Government, the scheme would not have to be paid for locally.

Shelley Rawlins campaigner from Wiltshire for Refugees said: “In 2017 20,000 unaccompanied children arrived in the EU they are living in refugee camps but that doesn’t mean they are safe.

"The descriptions of unaccompanied children makes for grim reading and includes victims of trafficking and sexual abuse, survivors of torture and children who have been forced into marriages. We have heard from doctors at one of the biggest refugee camps in Greece that the standards are worse than in Africa during the Ebola crisis.

"At least there they had hope and were with their families. In Greece, they found children aged 10 attempting suicide.It is really important for us to combat human trafficking and to do with we need to provide safe ways for people to legally travel.

"That way, there is no trade for illegal traffickers and no need for people to risk their lives on the back of lorries.”

Corsham cllr Ruth Hopkinson said: “I pledge my full support and hope Wiltshire Council would be extremely supportive. There seems to be some reticence on the ability to identify foster carers but I think that is backsliding. There is a shortage of foster carers but I think some people who would take up this opportunity may not consider fostering under normal circumstances.

"It won’t cost us money, it won't effect our services, but even if it did it’s about doing the right thing, as a county we should be open to looking after the vulnerable members of the world community.”

770 places have been confirmed already by other rural and urban councils and during a meeting on Monday night, Corsham town council supported the cause unanimously.