A FORMER Mayor of Worcester has suggested the city should be careful about taking in too many Syrian refugees due to housing pressures.

Figures have shown how 2,356 people were stuck on Worcester City Council's housing waiting list in the 2015/16 financial year - with some waiting more than 200 days.

Councillor Alan Amos says with the first cohort of Syrian refugees arriving into Worcestershire right now, he is worried about how it could impact.

But the remarks have been refuted by senior Worcester Labour politicians, who say the city should be seen to play "a full part" in the resettlements.

Councillor Amos said: "There has been some criticism over Syrian refugees so we need an answer.

"We know the Green Party policy is to allow another 240,000 Syrian immigrants in.

"To what extend will the council be seeking to take in more immigrants, and to what extent will they be housed?"

He made his remarks during a full council meeting after Labour Councillor Roger Berry, a cabinet member, revealed the extent of the city's housing waiting list.

Councillor Berry said the figure stood at 4,334 people in 2015 and 3,320 in 2014, adding that some people were waiting in excess of 200 days to be housed for certain properties.

But he said: "I hope the city council will play its full part in co-operating with Worcestershire County Council in housing Syrian refugees.

"However, it is likely that all the homes provided will be in the private sector."

Despite Councillor Amos' concern bosses at County Hall have consistently stated that the refugees are set to be found homes with private sector landlords.

A total of 50 Syrians will be taken in across Worcestershire this year, contributing to David Cameron's stated figure of 23,000 arrivals into Britain by 2020.

The Worcester News exclusively revealed in May how the Home Office was preparing to charter a plane to fly the first families over.

Three families comprising of eight refugees in total are being housed in Redditch to kick it off.

A further four families are expected to arrive next month, with two of them resettled in Kidderminster and the other two in Redditch, before Worcester gets involved in August.

The county council has been asking for private landlords to contact them direct if they have suitable homes.

As we revealed earlier this year the Government will fit the whole bill for 2016 and then offer £5,000 per-head for 2017 to cover the costs, working out at £250,000 in total.

Under the deal the Home Office will carry on funding the support for Worcestershire's Syrians every year up to 2020.