THE people of Bridgwater are being urged to rally round and offer help to the thousands of refugees suffering violence in war-torn Syria.

Leaders of the town and district councils have said they are willing to play their part in helping relocate refugees if required to do so amid the crisis which has engulfed Europe in recent weeks.

Thousands of people are fleeing Syria as violence and fighting escalates in the country.

The refugees are desperately seeking to leave the country and are heading to countries across Europe.

Prime Minister David Cameron has announced the Government will take on 20,000 Syrian refugees by 2020, and that local councils will receive funding channelled from the Government’s £12bn international aid budget to help relocate the refugees.

Brian Smedley, leader of Bridgwater Town Council, said he had been inundated with letters and calls about what the town and its people can do to help out in the crisis. He said that as it was a small organisation, Bridgwater Town Council has “pretty much no power” to do anything, but that he had been in touch with Sedgemoor District Council to try and find a way that the area could help those fleeing the crisis.

He said: “In truth Bridgwater Town Council has pretty much no power to do anything, nor property to help out, nor local government mandate.

“From Bridgwater Town Council’s perspective the best thing we can do is point people who want to help in the direction of the most appropriate support group.

“It has been a genuinely moving experience to receive so many emails asking what we can do to help and not how best we can keep them out.”

In its response to the crisis, Sedgemoor District Council has said it is willing to play its part in helping the refugees if they are required to do so by the Government.

The chief executive of Sedgemoor District Council, Kerry Rickards, said in a statement: “The Home Office is working to determine locations that are suitable for new asylum dispersal areas.

“Once this has been decided, we may then be in a better position to understand the role that Sedgemoor, as a small rural district council, is able to play.

“We stand ready to play our part by providing housing, help and support together with other Government agency partners. So far, our support or assistance has not been called for as the Government believes that their existing structures for acceptance within the Country are more than able to cope.”

A spokesman for the council said if residents want to help house refugees they should contact them for more information.

British Red Cross has also launched a collection for those wishing to donate clothes or money to the refugees. The charity is holding a number of collections, including at the Tesco store in Burnham on Sunday, and is also urging people to contact them directly on 01823 273713 or email swashington@redcross.org.uk.