THE Barrow MP has called on the community to "do better" after a family of Syrian refugees were said to be "too frightened" to attend a meal hosted by him.

John Woodcock said he was "shocked" after one Syrian family stayed at home rather than coming for a meal with him because they were too scared to leave the house.

Mr Woodcock hosted a number of Barrow's Syrian families, who have been resettled in the town, at his Walney home on Saturday.

But one of the families failed to turn up, with the MP being told they were "too frightened" to leave their front door.

Mr Woodcock said: "It was a really nice afternoon, they're really lovely people. But one family didn't turn up and when I asked why I was told they weren't going to come because they were too frightened to leave the house."

He said it was only when he drove to their home that they felt safe enough to come out.

"I was relieved when they agreed to come when we offered to pick them up and escort them ,but how terrible that they feel like prisoners in their home," he added.

The Mail reported previously that a family in Ormsgill had been trying to find a new place to live after facing abuse in the area.

Six refugee families came to Barrow as part of the Government’s resettlement programme amid unrest in the Middle East, including a civil war in Syria and the presence of terrorist group ISIS in Iraq.

Mr Woodcock said: "Most of the families say the experience and the welcome they have been given in Barrow has been brilliant.

"I just think this is absolutely appalling."

"We have got to do better."