Cheshire East Council has confirmed that sixty-two Ukrainian refugees are currently living in Cheshire East with residents who have welcomed them into their homes - with more on the way after 316 applied for visas.

Mayor of Cheshire East, Sarah Pochin said the council is very much playing its part in welcoming the refugees to the borough.

Mayor Pochin gave councillors an update at Wednesday's meeting of the full council (April 27).

"The scheme that we're very much involved in is the Homes for Ukraine Scheme and at the moment we have 130 sponsors, so that's families that have come forward and opened up their homes to potential refugees," the mayor told the meeting at Macclesfield Leisure Centre.

Mayor of Cheshire East, Sarah Pochin provided an update to councillors on April 27 (Belinda Ryan).

"The council is very busy in terms of getting together welcome packs, information for the refugees, signposting for the sponsors.

"There's putting the processes in place to pay the refugees, pay the sponsors, there's all the safeguarding checks to ensure that accommodation is appropriate."

Cllr Pochin (Bunbury, Ind) said there is ongoing liaison with schools to take the children, with the work and benefits team, as well as working to ensure there is general integration into the community.

"So there's an awful lot of work going on and the council, so far, has been in touch with 105 of those 130 families that have come forward offering their homes," she said.

At present, the council only has figures available for people applying through the Homes for Ukraine Scheme.

There are no current figures for those people who are living with their own family members.

There are 62 confirmed Ukrainian refugees in Cheshire East - there are likely more with refugees living with own families (Getty Images).

This means that there are likely more refugees in Cheshire East than the figures currently suggest.

Mayor Pochin thanked the voluntary sector for its work in helping the refugees.

Mrs Pochin also paid tribute to Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, which has installed free smoke alarms in accommodation where necessary.

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(Ryan Parker and Belinda Ryan)