Kosovar refugees will be directed away from Essex and the South East when they arrive in Britain, it was revealed yesterday.

According to the Local Government Association (LGA), most will go to the North West, the North East and the Midlands.

In recent years asylum seekers have tended to gather in the south, placing a heavy financial burden on local councils.

Two planes carrying refugees arrive in Scotland on Sunday, but no passengers have been earmarked for Essex.

A spokeswoman for the LGA said: "As London and the South East have taken such a large amount in the past, we are trying to steer the influx away from these areas as much as possible.

"Essex is unlikely to receive any flights over the next few weeks."

Prime Minister Tony Blair announced earlier this week that Britain would accept up to 1,000 refugees a week after witnessing their plight first-hand on the Macedonian border.

However the county will only be given three or four days' notice that refugees are on their way.

Essex County Council's social services department is therefore preparing to house up to 250 Kosovars, and has identified several possible properties for them across the county.

A spokeswoman for social services said: "We are being very pro-active, putting plans into place.

"We have been asked by the Home Office to prepare and we have identified a number of properties across the county."

The county council has not revealed the location of these sites, but they are spread out across Essex.

It is also possible Stansted Airport will be one of four UK airports which will admit refugee flights.

Robin Rennie, who is co-ordinating joint refugee support from Essex, Southend and Thurrock, said: "We believe we will be asked next week to take our part, and we are very willing and committed to doing that.

"Our planning is now geared up to that possibility."

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