A BOROUGH is to help find homes for 10 Afghan families who have fled the new Taliban regime in the country.

Hyndburn Council is to spearhead efforts to identify properties for the evacuees who arrived in East Lancashire this month.

Some 50 Afghans are being accommodated temporarily in the Dunkenhalgh Hotel in Clayton-le-Moors, while permanent accommodation is found for them across Lancashire and elsewhere.

Its owners Mercure have signed a contract with Home Office to look after those forced to leave the war-torn country after the Taliban seized control of its capital Kabul last month.

They are individuals and their families who worked for or with British forces in Afghanistan over the last 20 years.

Hyndburn leader Cllr Miles Parkinson made the announcement to the borough's Full Council meeting on Thursday night.

The move has been backed by Cllr Marlene Haworth, leader of the authority's Conservative opposition group.

Cllr Parkinson told colleagues: "You will be aware that the Dunkenhalgh Hotel is currently being used to house evacuees from Afghanistan.

"Hyndburn is a warm and welcoming borough.

"The council will be working with local housing associations and other partners to find some of them permanent accommodation.

"We will identify 10 properties in Hyndburn for them.

"Lancashire County Council will provide the appropriate wrap about social care and support for these families."

Cllr Parkinson said after the meeting: "We will be looking to find 10 of these Afghan families homes in Hyndburn.

"We will be doing this over the next 12 to 24 months."

Cllr Haworth said: "I think this is the right thing to do. They are Afghanis who have helped the British forces while they were out there and have been through a terrible time.

"I an certain the people of Hyndburn will welcome them with open arms."

The arrival of the evacuees is part of the government’s resettlement scheme. for people and families in Afghanistan had assisted British armed forces in the country.

Blackburn with Darwen Council is understood to be in negotiations with the Home Office over finding accommodation for a group of Afghan asylum seekers in the near future.

Burnley, Ribble Valley, Pendle and Rossendale have all indicated they are ready to take families fleeing the Taliban regime.

They will receive financial support from the Home Office, which is coordinating the national effort, while they integrate over the next 12 months.