MORE than 100 visas have now been issued for Ukrainian refugees to stay with sponsors in Southampton. 

Home Office figures show that as of April 26, the number of visas issued for sponsors coming to the city stood at 118. 

This was up from 79 around 10 days ago - and comes as a total of 51,300 visas have been issued across the UK. 

Now a leader at a charity helping Ukrainians has paid tribute to the people of the area who have been bringing people into their homes. 

Jon Budgell from Southampton charity Hope Now said "it is amazing" that so many people have taken refugees in. 

READ MORE: Southampton stands with Ukraine with march and vigil

He told the Echo how the charity has still been helping people in Ukraine who want to stay put but need supplies such as closing and food. 

"I'm overwhelmed by the generosity of the folk in Southampton," he said "I think there is going to be a lot of trauma for people to deal with."

Jon added that after a previous story the Echo ran on the charity, the next day people came in with brand new supplies they had bought in the city that they wanted to donate to help.

The Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme, also known as Homes for Ukraine, allows citizens to volunteer to house refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine.

READ MORE: Saints stage moving show of support for people of Ukraine

Sponsors agree to offer accommodation for at least six months, with those receiving sponsorship allowed to live, work and study in the UK for up to three years.

The proportion of people waiting has dropped since April 7, when just 12,500 applications had been issued from 43,600 applications.

But the number of Ukrainians that have come to the UK through the scheme remains low, with the latest national figures showing just 11,100 had arrived by April 25.

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