PEOPLE have been urged by the Church to realise the benefits of welcoming asylum seekers on to their estates.

The Reverend Paul Walker of St Mary's Church, in Stockton, has asked residents to consider the economic and housing benefits provided by the extra funding given to areas which accept refugees.

Speaking after addressing a public meeting at his church earlier this week, Mr Walker said he was confident refugees would be welcomed in the area.

He said: "Everyone at the meeting said refugees were welcome and it is something I feel strongly about.

"What we have got is a lot of frightened people who are in a strange place.

"We have to help these people see the benefits of having refugees in their areas. The housing has already been improved and there are recognised economic benefits of having immigration in an area."

Meeting organiser Geoff Kerr-Morgan is hoping to gather a bus-load of supporters to join in a pro-refugee rally in Newcastle at the end of the month.

He said: "It would be great if we could take a group of people to the march to show the extent of positive feeling for these refugees."