GLOUCESTERSHIRE and South Gloucestershire "stand ready" to play their part in providing safety for people fleeing the Ukraine after Russia's invasion.

More than 500,000 people have fled the Ukraine since Russia invaded the country last week, according to the UN refugee agency.

Mark Hawthorne, leader of Gloucestershire County Council has now said the county stands ready to welcome those fleeing the war. 

He said: "I’m troubled and saddened by the conflict in Ukraine, and my thoughts are with the people of Ukraine, and Gloucestershire’s Ukrainian community.

"It’s a dreadful situation and we have offered support to staff who may have friends or family who are directly affected by it.

"Along with our Gloucestershire Housing Partnership colleagues we stand ready to support individuals fleeing the violence.”

Ruth Saunders, chair of the Gloucestershire Housing Partnership, said: “As a partnership, which includes Gloucestershire County Council and the six district councils, we support international resettlement across the county.

“Should central Government contact us about a scheme for Ukrainian refugees, we will work together and see how Gloucestershire can respond to support those individuals fleeing the violence.”

South Gloucestershire Council also said it was standing ready to welcome refugees displaced by the war in Ukraine.

Cllr Toby Savage, leader of South Gloucestershire Council: “South Gloucestershire has always played its part in helping to support and to resettle people affected by conflict who have come to this country.

"Our thoughts are focused on the terrible events in Ukraine and of course we stand ready to play our role in resettling people forced to flee the war in that country.

"We will engage positively with the Government to support any scheme they establish to bring in refugees from Ukraine and I know that our residents will hold out the hand of friendship and welcome to them.

“We await details of any new scheme and also welcome the Government’s announcement that Ukrainians already settled in the UK can bring their immediate family members to join them.

"This provides a route for Ukrainians fleeing disaster, war and persecution to come here.

"We also welcome the announcement of a further £40 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine to provide vital medical supplies.”

No information has yet been released about when and how many refugees will be arriving in the region. 

Yesterday Boris Johnson, who had faced pressure to do more to address the refugee crisis, said Britain would take "considerable numbers" of people fleeing the Russian invasion.

But he didn't go so far as matching the EU’s offer to waive visas for entry for three years, with the government citing security concerns.

Instead, the existing scheme which only applies to 'immediate' family members will be extended to wider family members - adult parents, grandparents, children over 18 and siblings.

Ukrainians who have no family already in Britain may be able to enter the country via a sponsorship route for firms to bring Ukrainians to the UK.