A council is asking private landlords with empty properties that could be used to home Afghan refugees to come forward.

Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) is looking for self-contained properties with at least a six-month tenancy to help fulfil their commitment to supporting Afghan nationals who have been assisting the British Government and Armed Forces in the war-torn country.

Cllr David Burton, Leader of MBC said: “We are doing all we can to help these desperate people and are appealing to all landlords who can help to contact us.

“These extra properties are needed in addition to our usual housing requirements for local people who need accommodation as we do not have any extra availability in our current existing housing stock.

“This is a call out to any landlords to help if they can play a part.

“We will work alongside them to provide intensive support to these families in order to help them integrate into our community.”

MBC says it will be working closely with the Kent Resilience Forum including KCC, and the Clinical Commissioning Group, along with other key partners across the borough to ensure evacuees settling in the community are given the best support.

Any private landlords who can help resettle families following the humanitarian crisis should contact the Homefinder team at homefinders@maidstone.gov.uk