Ashby-based leader of Leicestershire County Council Nick Rushton wants to ensure that the county is ready, willing and able to give assistance to any Ukrainian refugees fleeing Vladimir Putin's forces.

Local authorities, services and charities are pulling together as they prepare to welcome those fleeing war-torn Ukraine to the city and two counties.

Leicestershire County Council has said it is mobilising the other nine local authorities in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, alongside the police and fire services, NHS groups and local charities to support refugees when they arrive.

The council is aiming to set up a Ukrainian Refugees Group to help resettle new arrivals and deal with the challenges caused by them being forced to flee their war-torn country.

The county will also 'play its part' in helping find school places for children as well as supporting new arrivals with social care.

Cllr Rushton said: "We haven't been given firm details about numbers of Ukrainian refugees coming here but we, as a council, and all our partners, must be ready to help them in every way they need.

"We are expecting mainly women and children who will have experienced terrible violence, trauma and disruption to their lives and they will need a lot of support.

"We will need proper Government support to make sure they get all the help and support they require. It is morally the right thing to do."

More than two million people have so far fled the violence in Ukraine since the invasion began.

It is believed that more than 200,000 of them could arrive in the UK.

Cllr Rushton said it is 'certain' some of these will head to Leicestershire.

The county council leader also praised the response he has received from across the county as people pledge their help and support.

He said: "It's wonderful that, once again, Leicestershire people are showing their generosity and willingness to help those in desperate need."

The county council has also shown its support to the people of Ukraine by pledging to cut all financial ties with Russia.

The review, undertaken by senior officers, has found the county council has around £10 million of its pension pot is invested with Russian companies.

Cllr Rushton added: "Western governments are tightening the economic stranglehold on Putin's regime with sanctions and we want to do our part to force him to end the appalling violence and destruction he has unleashed on Ukraine."