A former residential nursing home in Shipley has been identified for Kosovan refugees who will start arriving in the Bradford district on June 9.

Along with other local authorities in the Yorkshire area, Bradford is preparing to welcome needy refugees from the Kosovan conflict and accommodation in the former home has been set aside, which will be their home for three to six months.

Altogether, Bradford is taking 300 refugees, some of the 3,000 coming to Yorkshire and Humberside. So far, accommodation has been earmarked for 160 women, children and elderly, who are due to fly in to Leeds-Bradford Airport on June 9.

They will be taken to Wharfedale General Hospital, Otley, where they will be processed for immigration purposes and where initial assessments on their health will be made.

They will then transfer to the former nursing home and other reception centres where they will be supported by workers from the Refugee Council, as well as receiving input from local social services, health and education staff.

After a few months, they will move to longer-term accommodation. Refugee co-ordinator Liz Westmorland said: "There is still a lot of work to be done in finding enough reception accommodation for the region's consignment of refugees, though I'm confident they will be found."

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