A GROUP has been formed to raise money to help rehome a family feeling war-torn Syria.

Maldon District Council is investigating offering accommodation to a family from one of the refugee camps near the country’s border.

In September 2015, the Government announced the UK would take in 20,000 Syrian refugees over the next five years.

Last year, the council pledged to support the refugees but said it could not rehome them in Maldon as there was no housing available and does not have its own housing stock.

However, after being contacted by a church group, meetings were held with council leader Miriam Lewis.

In February councillors agreed to pledge support of “non-financial interest” in helping resettlement schemes.

Any financial cost, which the council believes could be up to £1,000 a month, could be met by Crowdfunding money from residents.

Now Maldon Refugee Response has been set up in conjunction with Maldon Churches Together so people can begin to donate.

Payments can be made by cheque and online with details of how people can become involved available in due course.

Next week councillors are expected to agree to make a formal offer of accommodation to the Home Office.

The next anticipated arrival of families to the East of England is later this summer.

A report by chief executive Fiona Marshall, which will go before the council, said: “Good progress has been made in ensuring that there are no obvious barriers to progressing the offer, such as access to health and education services.

“The financial risks have been minimised through identifying families whose needs would be met by the accommodation offer and who are less likely to be affected by any benefit restrictions.”

People can now donate by cheque made payable to Maldon Methodist Church and sent to: Maldon Methodist Church, High Street, Maldon CM9 5BS. People are advised to write Maldon Refugee Response Fund on the reverse.

Payments can be made online to Maldon Methodist Church using Sort code 40-31-35, Account number 31144375, quoting payment reference ‘Maldon Refugee Response Fund’.