The issue of refugees and asylum seekers in this country is obscured by prejudice, lazy reporting and ignorance.

Too often, cases of crime, antisocial behaviour or benefit fraud are seized upon as typical of everyone who comes here seeking a new life.

Too rarely do we hear from the many decent people driven to our shores by unthinkable horrors, seeking no more than a safe place to earn their living and start afresh.

Today, we present four such stories of people who have ended up in Oxford.

They make for gruesome reading.

Yes, Britain has its troubles, but these people have faced problems that are hard for us to imagine.

Of course, we should come down hard on those who break our laws and abuse our hospitality.

But equally we should extend a warm welcome to those willing to play their full part in British society -- and celebrate their courage and determination.