RESIDENTS have been assured they will not lose out if they welcome refugees into their community.

A public meeting held between Stockton Borough Council and concerned residents sought to dispel myths about refugees.

The two areas earmarked for accepting refugees are Mount Pleasant and Elm Tree, while schools are also to be asked to take their children.

Councillor John McCoy said the meeting began with residents saying they thought they might be over-run with people taking their jobs or claiming large amounts of unemployment and family benefits.

Coun McCoy said: "In the end, the residents were a lot more understanding and sympathetic about the situation, both from the point of view of the refugees and their own concerns."

He said that although schools were largely full, headteachers were willing to accept extra pupils from refugee families, and one school had already shown it could cope.

The council, along with the North-East consortium of authorities handling refugees, will be taking its share of families who are being moved from the South East. It is not know how many refugees or when they will arrive in Stockton.

A meeting will be held in St Mary's Centre, Corporation Road, Middlesbrough at 7.30pm on Friday. All are welcome.