More refugees escaping war-torn Kosovo could end up in Southend, it hasbeen revealed.

The town's social services department is bracing itself for an influx of asylum seekers.

However, Southend's social services director, Jane Held, says it is impossible to estimate at this stage the number of people likely to seek refuge in Southend.

She said: "We are expecting a rise in the number of asylum seekers coming to the town but we do not know what the impact is likely to be.

"We are waiting for information from the Home Office, but at this moment I cannot even speculate on the size of the increase and the effect it will have on services."

It is hoped that the Government will provide extra cash to help authorities meet the cost of supporting the refugees.

The news came as a Kosovan asylum seeker yesterday told of his anxious wait for news of his family back home.

Rifat Brevrukaj now works as an interpreter for Southend social services and said he was growing more worried by the day, with the fate of his parents and brother a mystery.

He said it had been impossible for him to speak to anyone in his family, or get details on how they were faring as the NATO forces stepped up their daily air raids on the strife-torn country.

Rifat, who has been living in Southend for six-and-a-half years, said: "I last spoke to my parents the Sunday before last. They felt strong and hopeful that the NATO forces would bring some end to the problems.

"Since then telephone lines have been cut and it has been impossible to speak to them or get details about how they are.

"We just keep waiting and waiting to find out what is going on. We listen to the television and radio. Yesterday around 50 names of people who had been killed were read out."

Rifat, who lives in Westcliff with his wife and three children, begged his parents to leave the country before Christmas.

He said: "They would have been able to come here but they did not want to leave my brother there alone as he was unable to get the right papers to go."

Worried - Westcliff-based Kosovan Rifat Brevrukaj keeps an eye on the news

Picture: ANDY PALMER

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