A Greater Manchester councillor has been branded ‘vile’ after calling migrants who refuse to stay at refugee camps ‘ungrateful’ - and that they should be sent back to where they came from.

Trafford Tory Matthew Sephton was attacked on Twitter after saying migrants who are unwilling to get off trains at camps should be ‘transported directly back from where they came’.

His comments came amidst a growing refugee crisis across Europe, with thousands fleeing war-torn Syria.

There has been huge unrest in the Hungarian capital, Budapest, after police tried to force migrants off a train at a refugee camp. Some sat on the train and refused to get off, with others lying on the tracks.

The train had left Budapest hours after police let migrants into the railway station following a two-day stand-off.

Coun Sephton, a teacher in Stockport, tweeted: “If migrants refuse to get off train at refugee camp they should be transported directly back from where they came #RefugeeCrisis #ungrateful.”

Hours before, the Altrincham councillor posted: “Refugees in ‘angry stand-off with police’ in #Hungary? What on earth do they think they’re doing?! They’re guests, not there by any right!”

Coun Sephton has not responded to criticism. He declined to comment to the MEN.

The human cost of the crisis was made startlingly clear on Wednesday when 12 refugees drowned in Turkish waters trying to reach Greece - including five children.

Images of the washed-up body of three-year-old Syrian boy Aylan Kurdi, who died alongside his mother and five-year-old brother, caused outrage on social media.

Some of Coun Sephton’s followers quickly blasted his ‘reprehensible’ comments.

(Image: Win McNamee/Getty)

One posted: “Disgusting. Shame on you.”

Another tweeted: “You are vile.”

It is understood at least one resident has made an official complaint to Trafford council. Town hall leader Sean Anstee said the borough will do its bit to help refugees.

On Friday, the M.E.N. called on Prime Minister David Cameron to let Manchester do its bit to ease the crisis by allowing more refugees into the country.

MP Lucy Powell told him it was our ‘moral obligation’ to act - and that the vast majority of Mancunians would back her plea.

Criticising Coun Sephton’s comments, Manchester Central MP Ms Powell said: “These misguided, ill-judged comments show an astonishing lack of understanding and compassion and are a poor reflection on councillor Sephton.

“I hope he will apologise. A human tragedy is unfolding and we need to work together to resolve the situation.”

Mr Cameron has bowed to domestic and international pressure for Britain to take in more refugees from the conflict in Syria.