THE council leader has 'responded positively' to a request from Labour leadership candidate Yvette Cooper for the town to accept 10 Syrian refugee families.

Ms Cooper believes Britain should take in at least 10,000 more refugees affected by the conflicts in Syria and other countries and urged authorities across the country to take in 10 families.

Council leader Terry O'Neill confirmed he has been in touch with Ms Cooper over the situation.

"I have received the request from Yvette Cooper today with regard to the humanitarian crisis," he said.

"The council has enormous sympathy with refugee families who are fleeing persecution.

"I have responded positively to Yvette’s request on behalf of Warrington and I am waiting to hear from Yvette on how we take this forward."

Warrington North MP Helen Jones urged the council to support the request earlier today.

She said: "I am calling on the borough council to agree to the suggestion that the UK plays its part in helping to alleviate the humanitarian disaster which is currently playing out on the shores of the Mediterranean.

"We cannot look the other way while three-year-old children are drowning and being washed ashore – we can and should play our part.

"Taking ten families will have no adverse effect whatsoever on Warrington and if that is replicated across every council in the country it will mean that we will be able to help over 10,000 families escape the ravages of the war in Syria."