Landlords and residents with second homes are being urged to come forward and offer help for Afghan refugees.

Wandsworth Council has announced that it has joined a number of government schemes to try and help Afghan families resettle in the capital.

It has joined the Afghan Relocations and Assistantce Policy (ARAP) and the Afghan Citizen Resettlement Scheme.

With the Taliban forcing a mass evacuation of Afghan citizens, the government has said it will give homes to 20,000 Afghan people within the two schemes.

Wandsworth Council says it is committed to providing good quality housing for as many families as possible and will ensure those settling are supported to access public services, including healthcare and education.

The council is also providing guidance for residents who want to support the resettlement and response to the crisis in Afghanistan.

Councillor Ravi Govindia, Leader of Wandsworth Council, said: "The scenes in Afghanistan have been very distressing and our hearts go out to all of those who have been forced to leave their homes or are going through huge upheavals in their lives due to the ongoing situation.

"We have a long and proud history in Wandsworth welcoming displaced people into our borough, dating back to the Huguenots in the 17th Century up to very recently Syrian refugees seeking resettlement.

"Our priority is now to help in finding homes from those fleeing Afghanistan and give these people the care and support they need as they try to rebuild their lives in a new country.

"As always in Wandsworth we've had lots of requests from people wanting to help. The single most important thing we need right now is suitable accommodation, but this must be balanced with the demand for housing in our area. This is why we need private landlords to come forward.

"Beyond that, the best way for people to help is through financial donations, which can be done through organisations like the British Red Cross and the Refugee Council. This money will be used to support refugees as they settle into their new homes."

If you are interested in donating, volunteering or offering your property to help refugees, visit the refugee section of the Wandsworth Council website.