SYRIAN refugees who arrived in Aberystwyth just before Christmas gave out flowers to residents on the promenade this week to thank them for their warm welcome.

Aberystwyth welcomed 11 refugees in December from the war-torn country after Ceredigion council joined the first wave of ‘trail-blazer’ Welsh authorities to open its doors.

Initially the council said it did not have the structure in place to welcome refugees at the height of the crisis, but changed its mind as the problems in Calais, at train stations in Eastern Europe, and at make-shift camps on the Syrian border, worsened.

The refugees, including 33-year-old Mohamad Karkoubi and his family, gave flowers out to passers-by on Aberystwyth seafront on Tuesday, 12 July - thanking everybody who stopped by.

Mohamad, his wife Eshraq and his three children, twins Mayes and Rimes, three, and six-year-old Mostapha escaped the Syrian city of Aleppo and reached Lebanon by foot.

The family were selected by the UN and Home Office to come to the UK.

In an interview with Channel 4 News he said arriving in Aberystwyth was a “beautiful moment” and that local people had been “very good” to him and his family.

“They received us with love and took care of us all the way,” he said. “We’ve found the area here very beautiful and very safe. We are very happy.”

Lindsey Gaunt of Aberaid, a group set up to collect aid for refugees overseas and help the settling of Ceredigion’s new residents, said the promenade event brought a “tear to the eye”.

“Our Syrian refugee friends in Aberystwyth organised an event to say thank you to the people of Aberystwyth for welcoming and looking after them in our beautiful town,” she said.

“They want to show their appreciation of the kindness of the local community who have treated them so well.

“It has been very well received.”