More than a dozen school places have been offered to children who have fled the Ukrainian conflict and have been settled in Blackburn with Darwen.

Figures show 14 Ukrainian pupils have been offered school places in Blackburn with Darwen since the war began in February.

These are comprised of 10 primary and four secondary school-age children.

All primary school children were offered places within eight school days of an application being made.

All secondary school pupils were offered places within 10 school days of an application being made.

Executive member for Children, Young People and Education, Cllr Julie Gunn, said: “We are delighted to welcome these families to our borough.

“All children seem to be settling well at school, making friends, learning, thriving and some are even having playdates out of school.

"Our schools have been very accommodating and are offering extra support to the children”.

The figures also show 18 offers have been given to pupils who have settled in the borough from Afghanistan, and two children from Hong Kong.

The Government estimated 11,400 applications have been made for Ukrainian child refugees nationally up to May 27, of which nearly 10,000 had been given offers – including around 700 in the North West.

A further 5,400 Afghan and 8,000 Hong Kong pupils have been offered places in English schools, according to estimates.

People have been fleeing Afghanistan after the Taliban terrorist group took over the Middle Eastern nation after British and American troops left the country, while Hong Kong has been embroiled in protests and violence regarding alleged Chinese encroachment on Hong Kong's special administrative region status.

The Department for Education has admitted some children may not yet have school places in the UK, but says this could be due to pupils undertaking remote learning from Ukraine, or parents not realising that the English academic year finishes later than in Ukraine.

It added it is working to ensure all Ukrainian pupils can have a place in UK schools, asking families to apply now rather than wait for the new academic year in September.