Oxford looks set to become a 'city of sanctuary' after councillors voted in support of making the city a place of safety for asylum seekers and refugees.

Oxford City Council voted for the idea at a meeting last week.

John Tanner, who proposed the motion, said: "I am very pleased that the council has declared its support for the City of Sanctuary movement.

"We should remember the likes of Bobby Fryer, a Jewish refugee who was a trade union leader at the Cowley car plant. Where would we be without the valuable contributions that asylum seekers and refugees have made within our towns and cities?"

The group will now be working with individuals, organisations and institutes in the city to look at practical initiatives that would benefit the lives of people forced to seek sanctuary here.

It is planned to formally launch the group by the end of this year.

City of Sanctuary is a grassroots movement which was started in Sheffield and now has groups in many UK cities.