CHRISTMAS has come early for a group of kind-hearted volunteers preparing for the arrival of refugees into the county after their home office application was approved.

East Lothian Horizons, a group of seven volunteers from across the county, are on a mission to help refugees from war zones settle in East Lothian.

Niki Fallowfield, Mhairi Dickie, Jenni Lai, Ruth Peck, Leigh Pleasance, Elisabeth Ritchie and Tara Wright work under the auspices of the registered charity Citizens UK and with the support of the refugee resettlement organisation RESET.

The group, set up in March, will work in conjunction with the UK Government’s Community Sponsorship Scheme – the scheme enables local groups to sponsor a family currently supported by the UN High Commission for Refugees.

READ MORE: GROUP AIMING TO HELP SETTLE REFUGEES IN COUNTY

They were excited to reveal that the home office has given them official approval in principle following an application earlier this year.

This means as soon as the group secures a suitable property, refugees can be welcomed.

Niki Fallowfield, chairperson of the group, said: “We are delighted about our approval in principle and just so thankful for all the support that we have received from so many different people and places.

“The primary schools in both East Linton and West Barns have been so supportive as well both doing walkathons to raise money for us.

“We are now in the process of looking for a house, which ideally we would like to be a three or four bedroom home within the Haddington to Dunbar area.

The volunteers are asking the community to notify them of any properties in East Lothian available to rent, or coming up to rent.

For more information about the group, or to contact volunteers, visit https://www.facebook.com/eastlothianhorizons