AN EMERGENCY aid package has been put together for the 40 refugees arriving in Blackburn from the volcano-ravaged island of Montserrat.

Voluntary groups and council officials are joining forces to help the islanders who have been forced to flee from their Caribbean homes.

The operation got under way after Home Office bosses contacted Blackburn with Darwen Council asking for help to house the arrivals.

Hundreds have been forced to leave the island after the the situation worsened over the weekend.

The party, which arrives in East Lancashire tonight flew from Antigua and will be driven from Gatwick airport.

Charities have been donating warm clothing and blankets for the party because it is believed they will be unprepared for the East Lancashire climate. And various voluntary groups are planning to meet the refugees with a hot meal when they arrive in the borough.

They will then be taken to furnished flats across the borough provided by Blackburn with Darwen Council.

The town hall has been co-ordinating the operation and will also help the group to settle in the borough.

A council spokesman said: "We do not know any details about the group and they could even be travelling with children.

"Arrangements are temporary but the move could become permanent if necessary."

Social services and education officials will be on hand to give advice.

The party will also be given advice on how to apply for benefits.

And to make them feel more at home, the group will be put in touch with a party of refugees who arrived in Preston last month.

Officials working with the Preston group will also be called in to give their Blackburn counterparts advice.

The council spokesman added: "We hope the people of Blackburn will open their arms to these people and give them a warm Lancashire welcome."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.