A council of mosques said it wanted UK residents to take in orphaned Palestinian children affected by the bombing of Gaza.

During the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the government launched the 'Homes for Ukraine' scheme, to support families from Ukraine who sought refuge in the UK. 

Anyone in the UK could take in a family and offer a spare room or home for at least six months.

During the scheme people were offered £350 a month for the first 12 months your guest is in the UK and £500 a month for the second 12 months your guest is in the UK.

The Lancashire Council of Mosques (LCM) said the ‘act of solidarity was widely appreciated and made a significant difference in the lives of those affected’.

The Blackburn based LCM said they wanted to focus on orphaned children.

A statement from the Lancashire Council of Mosques to members read: “Today, we find ourselves confronted with another humanitarian crisis, this time in Gaza. 

“Many families in Gaza have tragically lost everything, leaving countless children orphaned and without anyone to care for them. It is with utmost concern for their well-being that we approach you in the hope of garnering support for our proposal. 

“The Lancashire Council of Mosques (LCM) would like to write to our government, urging them to consider supporting the idea of bringing these orphaned children to Lancashire, where caring and loving families are willing to open their homes and hearts to them. 

“We firmly believe that this initiative would not only provide much needed support and stability to the children but also allow Lancashire residents to embrace the spirit of compassion and humanity that our community is renowned for. 

“We kindly request your assistance and support in this endeavour. If you share our belief that helping these families and children who have suffered immense loss is a noble cause, we would greatly appreciate your endorsement of our letter.

“Together, we can make a significant impact and provide a brighter future for these children. Once we have received responses from all the concerned parties, we will proceed with writing to our government.”

The statements asks anyone wanting to support the cause to e-mail admin@lancashiremosques.com.