Refugees staying in the Maldon area are to benefit from a new support group.

Maldon town councillors Chris Danes and Alison Lamb, who is also a district councillor, along with Mr Danes' wife Dr Catherine Cargill have formed the group to see how those asylum seekers staying at Mill House in Langford can be helped.

Mr Danes said: "We want to see how the community can best meet the needs of the refugees. There are two Czech families staying at Mill House with young children.

"Their husbands have been detained at Rochester detention centre and they have not seen them since November.

"We would like to do something like organise a trip so they can visit them."

Mr Danes said a meeting had been organised of interested groups for next week. We want to co-ordinate the best way forward, working in liaison with social services."

Mr Danes said the support group would like to hear from anyone who was interested in helping the refugees particularly someone who may have a minibus to lend and Czech or Russian speakers.

He can be contacted on (01621) 840050 or e-mailed on maldon.refugee@btinternet.com

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