REFUGEES from Syria could arrive in Cumbria as early as spring after a deal an agreement was made to help those fleeing the war-torn country.

The Cumbria Leadership Board - which includes the leaders of all local authorities - says that a 'Cumbria Offer' will be drawn up over the coming months which will then be passed on to the Government.

It will include the number of refugees that can be resettled in the county between 2017 and 2020. A matching process will ensure refugees are given homes in areas where relevant support is available.

Last year Cumbria County Council announced that it would take in 15 Syrian families before Christmas, but following a delay in the clearance process and the arrival of Storm Desmond, the majority of spare accommodation was given to flood victims.

But Colin Glover, leader of Carlisle City Council and chairman of the CLB, said that the board had reaffirmed its commitment to make an offer to help resettle Syrian Refugees and their families in Cumbria.

He said: "Over the coming months the county’s local authorities and partners will work together to establish a Cumbria Offer which will set out the number of refugees that can be resettled into Cumbria over the next three years, 2017-2020.

"Once the offer is finalised and agreed with government then a ‘matching process’ will take place, this process will look at those refugees in established camps needing homes and support and the available support on offer from Cumbria to ensure that a compatible fit is made.

"If any of these matches prove successful then we could expect to see refugees arriving in Cumbria from Spring 2017.

"Finally, as this issue progresses, we will continue do all that we can to keep the residents of Cumbria are kept fully informed."