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A family of refugees who fled war-torn Syria were forced to move from their new British home within hours of arriving after neighbours made "derogatory" comments.

The three adults and six children are now being put up in a hotel for at least a week after they were forced to flee their council property.

The extended family were among 20 Syrians who were housed in Stoke-on-Trent, on June 30 through the Home Office's 'Syrian vulnerable person' scheme.

But they were moved from their new home within hours of arriving in the city after concerns were raised over their safety.

Council chiefs acted after a "derogatory" comment was reportedly made by a neighbour about the ethnicity of the family in one of two houses in the same area.

The Syrian refugees in the second property also moved out of their home in support of their loved-ones.

(Image: GETTY)

The Reverend Sally Smith, who runs the Sanctus charity for asylum seekers and refugees, offered refuge to the nine family members following the incident.

The vicar, who is based at St Mark's Church in Stoke-on-Trent, said the family were so upset they even asked to be "taken back to Syria".

She added: "Since the announcement that the council would offer homes to 20 Syrian refugees from a camp, church groups have offered their assistance and forums have been held in the hope that several people could work together to offer a warm welcome to any newly-arriving families.

"However, the council chose not to engage with any of us and resettled the families themselves, without taking into account the type of community they were settling them into.

"The family were shaking and crying and even asked to be taken back to Syria.

"I could not leave them in that state, so the only option was to take them back to my house, where we gave them a meal to break their fast and we gave them our beds.

"The following day they were taken to the hotel arranged by the council."

Stoke-on-Trent City Council are now hoping to find two new properties for the Syrian families and councillors have stressed they are working to support the refugees.

Councillor Randy Conteh, cabinet member for housing, said: "Stoke-on-Trent has a diverse and welcoming community and city residents are known for their warmth and friendliness.

"Three of the families were met with the support of local people that our city is famous for.

"Unfortunately a very isolated incident occurred at a neighbouring property of the fourth family which was directed at our staff after they asked a neighbour to turn their music down.

"To avoid this unsettling the family, who were indoors at the time, we acted swiftly and have moved these family members into alternative accommodation, with support for the children and all of the family, while we look at appropriate housing for them.

"The other Syrian families who came to the city at the same time are settling in well.

"We are all united in wanting these families to be able to settle happily in the city away from the trauma they have suffered.

"Any major change is unsettling and we are doing everything we can to support the families."