A GROUP of 50 refugees and Upper Wharfedale residents met together for a Yorkshire day of fun and outdoor activities.

The refugees came from Bradford and Burnley and comprised all ages and many nations including Albania, Congo, Ghana, Iraq, Nigeria, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Syria.

The day started with some cricket coaching and a game of cricket followed by football, walks around Kettlewell and along the River Wharfe, and scone making.

The toddlers and younger children had great fun in the children’s playground and with the toys in the village hall.

Upper Wharfedale was looking its autumnal best and the weather was kind; as one guest said: "It was heavenly - couldn’t have had it better."

The visitors were very interested in what it was like living in the Dales.

They were curious about sheep farming, local employment, distance to the shops and public transport.

The families were particularly keen to hear about the local school.

A spokesman for the Upper Wharfedale Refugee Support Group, which organised the day, said: “We all had great fun and it was interesting to meet people from so many different nationalities and backgrounds. Many of our visitors have faced great difficulties and hardship but were full of good humour and friendliness. They thought the countryside was lovely and the villages so pretty.

“For many refugees and asylum seekers, a day out in the Dales is simply unaffordable without the support of local people. We had many volunteers who organised activities and make a delicious buffet lunch. We are also very grateful to the Yorkshire Millennium Trust who provided funding for transport; otherwise the day might not have been possible.”

Anyone who would like to help the refugee support group can email refugees@upperwharfedale.net