BURY people are being urged to rally round to help the town's first refugees from war-torn Kosovo who will arrive in 12 days' time.

Donations and volunteer helpers are urgently needed to make a safe haven for 100 refugees who are scheduled to come to Bury on Wednesday, June 2.

As revealed in last week's Bury Times, those fleeing the savagery in the Balkans will be taken to the Geoffrey Kershaw Centre in Bury.

Health and safety work is being carried out to turn the former school premises into a reception centre. Portable buildings will be set up in the yard to provide additional teaching and recreational space.

If the war drags on, the refugees - mainly women and children - could be housed in clusters in the community, mainly in council houses. Mr Dennis Taylor, council chief executive, said: "Bearing in mind that we have no idea of how traumatised the refugees will be, their age or gender profile, in fact anything about them, until they are virtually here, we have had to work extremely hard to put together a co-ordinated response in a very short period of time."

The town's leaders have now appealed for donations of clothing, furniture and other items but also for specialised help from volunteers, particularly speakers of Albanian, and trained teachers and nursery nurses, especially those who are retired and able to offer sufficient time.

Council leader Derek Boden said: "We are going to need the full support of the community across the borough. Bury is now involved in a huge humanitarian effort and I know that local people will be happy to play a part.

"I am certain that when these poor people who have suffered the trauma of losing loved ones and their homes arrive here in Bury they will receive a warm and friendly welcome." The council's refugee co-ordinator, chief social services officer Jim Wilson, said the Government was paying the cost of setting up the reception centre.

"The refugees are being given exceptional leave to stay in this country for one year although they are eventually expected to return to their homeland," he said.

"However, in the meantime we have the responsibility of offering a home and all that goes with that. Many of the people who will be arriving in Bury have lost everything, having no more than perhaps a holdall for all their belongings."

The council has set up a DonationLine which will start on Monday and be open from 10am-3pm, Monday to Friday. Callers should ring 764 7480 or 253 5181 and arrangements will be made to collect goods.

Cash donations are not being sought but items such as clothing, furniture, baby equipment and toys are. However, they will need to be new as it will not be possible to provide somewhere to store and sort second-hand goods.

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