Wiltshire Council has said it is "already aware of many offers of support from Wiltshire residents to provide homes for Ukraine people".

It has also said that it will ask the Ministry of Defence to offer empty military homes to Ukrainian refugees.

It comes as the government has released details of its scheme to support refugees.

Under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, people offering spare rooms in their homes will be given £350 a month, and there will also be support for councils so those coming to the UK can be helped to access services and children can attend schools.

Councillor Richard Clewer, leader of Wiltshire Council said: “We are already aware of many offers of support from Wiltshire residents to provide homes for Ukraine people who need a safe place to stay. Once again residents are showing their generous nature and we are preparing to welcome those who need a safe home here.

"We are ready to take action and provide assistance where it is needed. The government has said it will provide financial assistance to local authorities to provide wraparound support to refugees and we are waiting for further detail on this.

"We have previously asked the Ministry of Defence to consider releasing some of the many hundreds of empty homes they have in Wiltshire for refugees and we’ll be asking that same question again to see how we can all do our bit to provide a place for these people to stay.”

Individuals, charities, community groups and businesses can volunteer accommodation. Sponsors can provide accommodation for as long as they are able but there is a minimum expectation of six months.

Those arriving will need to meet standard security checks. Sponsors and all adults in the sponsoring households will also be subject to security checks and may be subject to safeguarding checks too.

People interested can record their interest at gov.uk/homes-for-ukraine to receive updates and more information on how to apply.

Then on Friday, March 18, Phase One of the visa application route will open for sponsors and named contacts to apply to the scheme.

Sponsors can be of any nationality, with any immigration status provided they have at least six months’ leave to remain within the UK. In the first phase of the scheme, sponsors will need to have a named person whom they wish to sponsor.

The government will provide an optional payment of £350 per month for up to 12 months for those offering accommodation.

The government has said it will also provide funding at a rate of £10,500 per person to local authorities, with an additional top-up for child education.