Church bosses and leaders say they will continue to help and support Afghanistan refugees fleeing the Taliban.

The Diocese of Chelmsford is building on its work to support refugees and says they are welcome in Essex and East London.

In a joint statement The Rt Revd Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani, Bishop of Chelmsford and The Revd Canon Gareth Jones, Diocesan Refugee Coordinator said: "Since 2015 the Diocese of Chelmsford has resettled almost 200 refugees through our resettlement program. Most have been families fleeing the Syrian conflict, but a number have been Afghan interpreters and their families fleeing the Taliban.

"As pictures of the catastrophic impact of the crisis in Afghanistan fill our TV screens, the human cost in lives devastated seems too much to comprehend, and many of us are left wondering what we can do to help in the face of such great tragedy.

"As a diocese committed to serving Christ in the downtrodden, persecuted and oppressed, and to witnessing to the transforming presence of Christ in the midst of the seemingly impossible, we continue to stand ready to do all that we can to serve and support refugees in our parishes across East London and Essex, and those communities seeking to walk alongside displaced people.

"Our Refugee Engagement Team is ready and resourced to support parishes in welcoming and supporting Afghan refugees over the coming months and years, and to building on the life changing work already done since 2015.

"As the Government program for Afghan resettlement becomes clearer over the coming weeks, our own diocesan program will be widened and reshaped to work alongside partners in providing the care, love and support to which the gospel calls us."