Forty teenage refugees from Syria and Afghanistan are to be given temporary accommodation in Cranbrook.

The youngsters, aged 16 or 17, have fled the fighting in their home countries and arrived here unaccompanied by an adult.

Kent County Council said that they would be housed at the Swattenden Centre, in Swattenden Lane, while their asylum applications were processed.

Seán Holden, the county councillor for Cranbrook, urged the town to welcome the teenagers.

He said: “The children coming here have come from hell.

“They are alone and scared. It is good and right that we help.

“This will not be some unruly influx. It will be no more than 40 teenagers who have fled the surreal horrors of Syria, or the Afghan Taliban or the terror of Eritrea.”

Cllr Holden said he had been assured by KCC that the town would hardly know their guests were there.

He said: “Quite rightly, they are not locked down, but I am told in other places they have tended to keep to the facility.

“If they do go into town, they will probably be accompanied, and I hope we can show them some comfort and care.

“When they have been assessed and helped with English and education they will go to a community, almost certainly outside Kent which, at present, is not able to offer any more placements.”

The refugees are expected to arrive in a couple of weeks.

The Swattenden Centre, an outdoor educational facility, has been used to house refugees in the past, although there have been none there for several years.

KCC said it had experienced an “unprecedented” increase in the number of arrivals. At present they are sent first to the Millbank centre in Ashford, but that was nearing capacity.

Most asylum-seekers arrive in England through Kent, but KCC is working on persuading other authorities around the country to take a share.