More than 600 Ukrainian nationals are starting to settle into life in Lancashire.

Lancashire County Council has been working with district councils, the NHS and various other organisations to support people fleeing war as part of the UK Government's Homes for Ukraine Scheme.

Lancashire has welcomed the Ukrainian people with open arms, with 4,212 people now registered to be sponsors, though not all will be successful. So far, 623 guests have been matched to properties.

Refugee resettlement and asylum dispersal contract manager, Lancashire Refugee Integration Team, Rebecca Joy Novell said: "It is a huge undertaking, but everyone is pulling together to make sure our new arrivals settle into their new lives in Lancashire.

"We're also taking numerous steps to support our sponsors, who have shown incredible generosity by opening up their homes to help those in desperate need."

Sponsors are DBS checked and police make regular welfare checks on those who have fled the war-struck country.

Sponsors and their guests are provided with a Lancashire-specific Sponsors Handbook and a Guests Handbook, while the Integration Team is hosting a series of online webinars around how to deal with trauma, registering for benefits and accessing English for Speakers of Other Languages.

Head of policy and engagement at Burnley Council, Rob Dobson, said: "We're delighted to be able to give a warm Lancashire welcome to families who have fled their country to escape this tragic war and provide somewhere safe for them to recover from their ordeal.”