A refugee from Libya who was tortured and imprisoned has shared his horrifying story as he settles into his new life in Old Trafford.

As part of Refugee Week which ended on Sunday, the Local Democracy Reporting Service spoke to five refugees living in Greater Manchester.

They revealed why they moved, how they got here and what life is like for them in the place they now call home.

One of the refugees, Waseem, does not spend much time with people from his native country.

But for the Libyan 41-year-old, it is because he does not trust them.

A survivor of torture and imprisonment, he left Libya on a small boat to Italy in 2020 and spent several days in a refugee camp before being taken to hospital with kidney pain.

Many buses and a terrifying walk through mountains later, he found himself in France, camping in Calais, hoping to come by truck to the UK – a country where he spoke the language – but he kept getting caught by police.

So desperate to get here, he braved another journey by sea.

After two years in Doncaster, he had his asylum claim accepted and he moved to Manchester in February where he first slept in a freezing Piccadilly station without a blanket.

With help from people he has met through HostNation, he is finding his feet and regaining his confidence.

He is now being housed in Old Trafford – but he is far from settled, as the mental trauma he has suffered is still taking its toll.

“I like Manchester,” he said. “If I live here, I can move on in my mental state.

“It’s a lovely city. People here are friendly. That’s why I decided to live here.”

For those fleeing war, escaping persecution or simply seeking a better life, Greater Manchester has long been a place of sanctuary for people all over the world.

The latest census recently revealed that one in three residents living in Manchester were born outside the UK with 94 languages spoken in the city.

It is no wonder, then, that so many refugees want to make Manchester their home.

But there is also an economic reason why many find themselves here.

With cheaper accommodation available in the North of England compared to the capital and the wealthy counties that surround it, asylum seekers are often housed in the region – and once here, many are drawn to its most vibrant city.

Local leaders say they are proud to welcome asylum seekers and refugees to the city-region and they condemn the recent "divisive" rhetoric over migration.

However, they wrote to the government last week demanding urgent action to alleviate the "acute" pressures that local authorities are facing.

It comes as hotels housing Afghan refugees are set to close later this year, sparking fears that those who are not housed in time will become homeless.

Around one in 20 homeless people in Greater Manchester have ended up in that stark situation after being forced to leave Home Office accommodation – more than anywhere else in the country, according to the letter signed by mayor Andy Burnham, his deputy Kate Green and all 10 council leaders. It comes as the cost of living crisis contributes to an increase in homelessness.

Migrants, asylum seekers and refugees have been all over the headlines as the government pledges to "stop the boats" and pursues controversial policies.

But behind the politics and the media coverage are real people trying to make a new life for themselves in this country – often after making perilous journeys.

For more information about HostNation, visit www.hostnation.org.