SOUTH Ayrshire has welcomed nine more Syrian refugees after a flight carrying more than 200 landed at Glasgow Airport last Thursday.

They have been brought to the country as part of the UK government’s Vulnerable Persons Resettlement (VPR) scheme.

David Burns, Head of Housing and Facilities, said:“Two more Syrian families – a total of nine people – have arrived in South Ayrshire this week as part of the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme.

"The four families already settled here are doing well and we will continue to work with our partners and communities to support our newest residents."

The Syrians have been taken into the care of local authorities including South Ayrshire, North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Fife.

Home Office spokesman Michael Goldstein said: “Unfortunately, we cannot give out an accurate number of how many of the Syrian refugees will be residing in South Ayrshire but there will be a number from the group of 200 going to the area.

“I can say that in December 2016, there were 17 who were taken into the care of South Ayrshire’s local authorities.”

Immigration Minister, Robert Goodwill, added: “The humanitarian crisis in Syria is unprecedented which is why we decided to undertake one of the largest resettlement schemes in the UK’s history.

“I am very grateful to the Local Authorities, community groups and individuals across Scotland who have helped to provide these vulnerable people with a safe environment and the chance to rebuild their lives.”

Hundreds of flights carrying Syrians have arrived in the UK over the past 18 months, with over 5,500 refugees already resettled in the UK under the scheme so far.

Around a fifth have been found homes in Scotland.

The government remains on track to meet its commitment of resettling 20,000 Syrians by 2020.