NORTH Ayrshire Council is set to agree to resettle a further 40 Syrian refugees in the area - bringing the total to 220 by March 2020. 

Next week at NAC's Cabinet, members look likely to give the green light to expand and bring 'a safe haven' to 40 more people over the next seven months, following on from the 160 settled by the end of September of this year. 

The Cabinet papers state: "The humanitarian crisis continues in Syria with millions of people displaced as a result.

"Cabinet approval is sought for the Council to continue the humanitarian commitment already made and provide a safe haven to a further 40 refugees leading up to the conclusion of the current programme in March 2020.

"This will increase our overall commitment to a final total of 200 refugees resettled within North Ayrshire."

More on this story in next week's paper.