RENFREWSHIRE Council will be one of the first local authorities in Scotland to care for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.

Youngsters will have arrived in the UK having fled conflict in Afghanistan, Iraq and Eritrea.

More than 80 Syrian refugees – all of them in family groups – have already settled in Renfrewshire over the past year. 

Successful integration into the local community has prompted the council to look at other options to help unaccompanied or vulnerable children seeking asylum. 

Renfrewshire Council Leader Mark Macmillan said: “Renfrewshire has the experience, the support structure, and the community involvement to make a difference in helping these young people build new lives here.

“There has been tremendous support from individuals, community groups and public agencies in Renfrewshire to first welcome and then help integrate refugees from the Syrian conflict.

“That is why we are proposing to take forward a local scheme - which can fit into national programmes as they develop - and which can be put in place quickly over the next few months.

“We can help provide a safe and secure home for vulnerable children and young people who have been displaced by conflict.”