A family of Syrian refugees will be moving into a specially adapted six-bedroom home after council could not find a local family to give it to.

The property has been used as emergency accommodation for a year but Sevenoaks District Council and the landlord, West Kent Housing Association, had not been able to find a suitable permanent family.

Residents had been lobbying the council to house refugees in the home in Eynsford, Kent, since last year, but many have reacted with outrage that a refugee family will receive the property rather than a local family.

Some even labelled it a 'absolute disgrace' with the decision sparking a huge debate on social media.

Residents in Sevenoaks, Kent, pictured, have reacted with fury after it was announced a Syrian refugee family will be housed in a six-bed property in the town after a 'local family could not be found'

Sevenoaks District Council made the decision at a meeting last week and said it was a 'good outcome for everyone'

The decision has caused outrage on social media, with some branding it an 'absolute disgrace' that a local family is not getting the home

Others say they are left paying hefty private rents because they cannot get social housing and said the UK was 'rubbish at looking after its own people'

Some said there were 'plenty of English families in Kent that need help' over families coming in from Syria

Teresa Osborne said: 'Bloody hell, we have many families that need bigger properties in Kent, this is an absolute disgrace.'

A commenter writing under the name Deano Kentish added: 'So this family of refugees just gets given a six bedroom home adapted for somebody who is disabled because there were no other candidates?

'I find that extremely annoying, being that my mum is disabled and has been on the list for an adapted home in West Kent for almost 19 years.

'And that I myself applied for a home in West Kent along with my wife and four children and got refused, even though we are in a two-bed property.

'It's overcrowded and I have to travel 35 miles daily to care for my granddad who lives in Eynsford.

'When are people born and bred and who work hard in this country ever going to be considered before outsiders?

'And just to clarify to every person who wants to jump at me, this is not a racial rant of any kind.

'This is a rant that families and disabled people who are born in this country - regardless of race or ethnicity - could have been homed happily in this home before any outside refugee was ever considered.'

After considering other options, such as splitting the property or selling it, the decision was made to resettle the town's first refugee family from Syria.

Cllr Michelle Lowe, cabinet member for housing, said: 'We have agreed to bring our first Syrian refugee family to the district and I firmly believe this is a good outcome for everyone.

But others said refugees should benefit because they are 'fleeing war' and 'need help'

Others said taking up 'temporary refuge' in the UK is 'not a shortcut to "perks" available to UK citizens'

The leafy Kent location, pictured, is part of the 'stockbroker belt' with many residents London City workers who commute in

'We offered support to councils across Kent since the start of the government's Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme, but with no housing of our own, and no properties coming forward from the private rented sector, we couldn't make a commitment to house any refugees.

'We will be helping a refugee family escaping from a terrible situation.

'At the same time the district keeps a social rented home that otherwise could have been sold and would never be available through the housing register again.

'We have been overwhelmed with the generosity of local people contacting us to offer support.'

The six-bedroom semi-detached home was specially adapted some time ago with wheelchair ramp access, but requires some modernisation and updating.

The property was used for emergency accommodation while the council and landlord tried to find a family who needed a home of that size.

According to local estate agents, a six-bedroom house in the area would fetch a price of at least £500,000.

But fuming locals took to social media complaining that the property could have been given to another Kent family.

The decision was made at the cabinet meeting on Thursday, March 9.

Locals have been left fuming at the decision and say they 'cannot believe' a family from the area could not be found. Pictured is the local Vine cricket ground

The house was available to residents of Sevenoaks and neighbouring authorities.

West Kent considered splitting the property into two or more smaller homes, but due to the way it is laid out, it was not cost effective.

They considered selling the property but there was no guarantee the money would have been reinvested in the Sevenoaks District.

Frank Czarnowski, West Kent chief executive said: 'West Kent is pleased this home will support the council to help a family fleeing the war in Syria and we hope it will give them an opportunity to settle and thrive while they remain in the UK.'

Sevenoaks District Council are also supporting the government's community sponsorship scheme which encourages local groups to have a greater role in supporting refugee families.