A local charity is raising money to support the 120 asylum seekers living in a Kenilworth Hotel.

The asylum seekers, many of whom come from Afghanistan, have been housed at the Riverside Hotel, at Chesford Bridge, since December.

Compassionate Kenilworth has launched a fundraiser to buy essential clothing, toiletries, shoes and educational resources for them.

Speaking at last month's Kenilworth Town Council meeting, charity trustee Cllr Richard Dickson said: "This is obviously a sensitive subject that needs to be handled carefully.

"Because of the contacts made during the pandemic, Compassionate Kenilworth got involved at the request of Migrant Help – the national organisation processing asylum applications – to provide additional support.

"They have been working with a range of local groups including the mosque in Leamington Spa, churches in Kenilworth and some volunteers who are providing English language teaching.

"Many of them will be there for 12 months or more. They are provided with an NHS card, they cannot work under government rules, most of them are bored stiff and members may well have seen them wandering around town.

"Many of them have many harrowing stories to tell."

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The asylum seekers have security staff at the hotel to protect them, and they also have a 10pm curfew.

Compassionate Kenilworth, which was formed from the Covid-19 Support Kenilworth Group, is aiming to raise £2,000.

The group said: "Compassionate Kenilworth, formerly Covid-19 Support Group, are working to deliver support by fundraising to purchase clothing, toiletries, emergency items as well as coordinating English Language sessions and provision of printed resources.

"We need your help to support them, please donate and show these newcomers a warm Kenilworth welcome."

Last December the town council promised to take a more active role in housing Afghan refugees.

And members made a similar statement last month when Russia invaded Ukraine.

The link to the JustGiving page can be found here.