COUNCILLORS in Swindon pledged to take in and support people fleeing war-torn Afghanistan.

The issue of how the town should accommodate refugees was discussed at a full Swindon Borough Council meeting last week.

Summing up the debate Coun Dan Smith said: “We must do more than just offer these refugees a home. We must integrate them into our community, help them work and their children to go to school and maybe some will go on to become cabinet members at Swindon Borough Council."

Here's what you told us on Facebook...

Kevin McClean: "This is the right thing to do. Just make sure you don’t underestimate the support they will need. They have lived in a country who have only known war and have a different way of life and will need help integrating. I have worked with these noble people and it can be unpredictable. Please make sure you support this properly."

Alan Walklett: "I understand some are genuine who need help but we need to sort out them in our own country that need help first before bringing more in stretching our funding even more!"

Graham Seager: "OK, but where are they going to live and where are all the jobs coming from to support them? More bodies, more people to pay into the government and retirement age as well or will taxpayers still have to fork the bill increase in taxes as well as an increase in retirement age to try and regain some of the money spent."

Alan Lovesey: "As usual in this country the council can house refugees but do nothing about the homeless sleeping in the car parks or shop doorways."

Nathan Day: "Oh, some of the comments here! Such empathy! Let's hope some of you never find yourself in their situation."

Chris Gaulton: "If a lot of people looked back through their family history they too would probably have been immigrants or a refugee at some point."

Charlotte Lovett: "They are humans leaving a war zone. We are lucky we haven't had to endure that here. They are more in need of help than anyone here is. I don't understand why people think they are more entitled than people who are fleeing their country to stay alive, just because they were lucky enough to be born here. Be kinder."

Rena-Denise Lewis: "The women kids should take priority over the men with these refugees coming here. I feel sad for all the homeless in UK as well. Nobody seems to be helping them. Charity should really begin at home. This wasn't or isn't our war, we have enough problems of our own. Where are the council goin get money from to clothe, feed, educate, give them medical treatment and house them? Oh yes, there must be a money tree growing in the council's garden...

Angelina Charlotte: Everyone saying help the people in our own country… how many of you do actually help the ones ‘in our own country'. Some of comments…'gonna move’... what to an all-English island? Time to get with the times. Some of the refugees are doctors, nurses and vets. Look at the positives or if you're that uncharitable to just help them because they are fleeing !!

Anne Ackrill: "Bring back Nigel Farage. It seems this country is hell bent on supporting these foreign men than supporting the people that have paid their taxes and lived in poverty. Please support our own so much foreign aid is wasted. Why don't we support our own country?"