FORTY more Syrian refugees will be arriving in Aberystwyth before 2020, the Cambrian News can reveal.

Before Christmas, 10 refugees from Syria arrived in the town after Ceredigion council did a U-turn as the crisis deepened.

A report by the Ceredigion Local Service Board said the refugees had been given a warm welcome and had experienced “no negative incidents” and none had been reported to the Neighbourhood Police Team.

They will now be joined by 40 others before 2020, under plans outlined by the council.

In 2016, Aberystwyth will welcome two families, plus three refugees to fill an “empty accommodation unit” identified but not utilised during the first phase of the project.

The council said it is “awaiting a referral from the Home Office to fill this void as soon as possible”.

In January, the group of refugees were welcomed to Ceredigion by Cllr Ellen ap Gwynn, on behalf of Ceredigion and Cllr Alun Williams, on behalf of Aberystwyth town council once they had settled in.

The group “expressed a desire” to practise their English informally and a meet and greet with members of the community was held the following week.

The report said it “is hoped that this will become a regular event in order for the group to make links with the wider community”.

See this week’s south editions for the full story, in shops now or online by clicking the Digital Editions tab at the top of the page