MINISTRY of Defence properties will be leased to refugees from Afghanistan although none of those who have already fled to Fife have decided to stay here.

The move will help families who have been living in a bridging hotel in the Kingdom move into more suitable accommodation in Rosyth and Leuchars from March, while councillors hope more "at-risk" former interpreters will arrive here and in the UK soon.

Fife Council have been offering refuge to people fleeing from war and persecution in Syria, Afghanistan and, more recently, Ukraine for years and reiterated the message that "refugees are welcome", although it appears many are keen to live elsewhere.

At last week's cabinet committee meeting, Councillor Lesley Backhouse asked: "I know we've had a significant number of Afghan refugees through the holding hotel, do we know if any of them have settled in Fife?"

Gavin Smith, service manager for housing access, confirmed: "None have resettled here. We've taken a person-led approach with each family that's arrived in the bridging hotel but none have physically settled in Fife, despite our best efforts."

He added: "There have been some families that have settled in other parts of Scotland. What we're finding is because they've been so closely associated with the Forces over an extended period, most of them are looking to get down to other parts of England, not just London but to garrisons where previous connections have been."

Last week's cabinet committee agreed that the council would lease 28 empty MoD properties in Rosyth and Leuchars, for three-to-five years, to help refugees move on from the bridging hotel.

Up to 100 Afghans have been staying there at any one time, currently there are 51 people living there.

Head of housing John Mills said: "In general terms, most Afghan families want to move down south to be near major conurbations and army bases, so there might be an attractiveness to be in Leuchars or Rosyth as they are near to military bases."

The council said discussions with the Home Office and the MoD about 'move-on' accommodation for refugees had been "ongoing for months".

They've also pushed the case for getting a "significant number of at-risk Afghans", especially those who worked with British armed forces, out of Afghanistan as soon as possible.

Mr Mills added: "It's been a very slow and difficult process to work through with the MoD but there now seems to be a new impetus from the Home Office, the MoD and the defence secretary. They're very keen to move it on at some pace."

Fife has a "positive reputation" for responding to humanitarian crises and Cllr Judy Hamilton said: "It's very important we give the message that refugees are welcome here.

"There is a pressure on local services and that's recognised. We're very grateful to the MoD for finally coming forward with these properties."

A report to the committee said that while Fife was currently experiencing "a very high level of homelessness and housing applicant demand", the provision of additional accommodation for Afghan families in MoD housing would have a "low impact" on the council’s resources.