KEIGHLEY is rallying round to help asylum seekers and refugees.

All Saints' Church at Highfield welcomed two Iranians, via the notorious 'jungle' at Calais, a year ago.

Now the Highfield Lane church has, amongst its members, a dozen people who have fled their homelands.

The congregation is part of a network of support in the town, which also includes the Salvation Army and Good Shepherd.

Keighley town chaplain, the Rev Dr Jonathan Pritchard, said: "Keighley is a welcoming and practical community – when people need our help and support, we respond well.

"When I was approached about two asylum seekers who had come through the jungle in Calais and were looking for a church, I knew I had to respond.

"One year later, a dozen asylum seekers and refugees are now part of All Saints."

Speaking at the start of Refugee Week, on Monday, he paid tribute to all those organisations and individuals involved in offering support.

"We work together to welcome and walk alongside asylum seekers who have been placed here," he added.

"We offer a warm welcome, friendship and practical support."

The efforts of townspeople are also praised by Keighley West councillor, Adrian Farley.

"I'm really proud of Keighley and its welcome," he said.

"It's good seeing people come together to work with the newest part of our community.

"Though our lives all have issues and pressures, we are still able to respond well when we see this kind of need."

And Lieutenant Ben Cotterill, of Keighley Salvation Army, describes the asylum seekers and refugees as "remarkable".

"They bring the world we watch on TV to Keighley," he said.

"Some of their stories are deeply distressing but they are now rebuilding their lives here and they bring such life into our community!"

At least 7,000 migrants, many of them children, lived in squalid conditions at the jungle.

They had fled from countries including Eritrea, Sudan, Syria and Iraq.

French authorities cleared the camp last autumn.

Refugee Week aims to celebrate the contribution of refugees to the UK and promote understanding between communities.

A programme of arts, cultural and educational events is taking place across the country.

"Refugee Week started in 1998 as a direct reaction to hostility towards refugees and asylum seekers," said a spokesman.

"An established part of the UK's cultural calendar, it is now one of the leading national initiatives working to counter this negative climate – defending the importance of sanctuary and the benefits it can bring to both refugees and host communities."

For more details, visit refugeeweek.org.uk.