SKIPTON is closer to being declared a 'town of sanctuary' for refugees from war torn countries after receiving the support of the town council.

Not all town councillors however approved of the move put forward by Cllr Alan Hickman, saying it was not necessary when good work was already being done.

The full council heard how two families had already settled in Skipton since July last year, with a further extended family of ten due to arrive this month and a possible fourth in February.

John Launder, Chairman of the Skipton Refugee Support Group, said there would be 18 people settled in the town following the arrival of the latest family.

He said the families had come through a difficult and sometimes traumatic time in leaving their own countries.

The families, brought to Skipton as part of the United Nations resettlement programme, were being helped by the group with language classes and being given household items to turn where they lived 'into homes', said Mr Launder.

And he said making Skipton a town of sanctuary - alongside Bradford and Leeds - would establish it as a place committed to welcoming refugees and asylum seekers and offering them hospitality.

Cllr Hickman said they were not talking about immigrants, but people who were fleeing persecution and who wanted to be safe.

"I believe it would be a great step forward if we as a council were prepared to consider ourselves a town of sanctuary and to acknowledge the fact we are a welcoming people," he said.

Cllr Robert Heseltine said both North Yorkshire County Council and Craven District Council had shown support for people seeking sanctuary and it was only right the town council did the same.

"Skipton is a welcoming town. We are a warm people and we have a tremendous ethnic community. Whatever their race, colour or creed, these people are desperate and we should welcome them," he said.

Cllr John Dawson said he did not disagree and was in support of the resettlement of refugees, but believed it was not necessary to make the town one of sanctuary.

And he said in Germany there had been problems accepting asylum seekers and the Calais camp had included adult men.

"I would be concerned about welcoming these type of asylum seekers. If it was simply asylum seekers from war torn countries, I would welcome them," he said.

Cllr Peter Madeley said it was about welcoming people from war torn countries.

"These people have gone through unimaginable abuse and violence. I have spoken to some of these people and they've had family members shot beside them. Of course, we don't want gangs of violent people, that is without question, but this is not about that, this is about people from war torn countries."

The Skipton Support Group was formed in September 2015 in response to the humanitarian crisis and following a meeting attended by 64 people. It has links to the Craven Refugee Support Group and currently has 250 members.

Last year, it hosted a weekend for refugees housed in Bradford which included some sight seeing and a ceilidh.

City of Sanctuary  is a national movement to build a culture of hospitality for people seeking sanctuary in the UK. Its goal is to create a network of towns and cities throughout the country which are proud to be places of safety.