UP to 25 families from Afghanistan will be welcomed to stay in Sandwell indefinitely, as the council publicly commits to rehoming those who risked their lives for Britain.

Sandwell Council has given the green light for 25 families to come to the borough, with the first families expected to arrive over the summer.

The families are war veterans who served on the front line, risking their lives to protect British troops with interpretation and translation services.

A spokesperson for Sandwell Council said: “We are committed to offering homes and support to 20 to 25 Afghan households.

“We accommodated one Afghan household last week and five properties are lined up for households expected to arrive in the next fortnight. We will also review our commitments as the situation in Afghanistan and the need for resettlement develops.”

The government has promised that up to 5,000 Afghans will be given refuge under the Afghanistan citizens’ resettlement scheme in the coming year – with an ambition to provide sanctuary to a total of 20,000 Afghans over the “long term”.

The new scheme was modelled on the Syrian vulnerable persons resettlement scheme, which relocated 20,000 Syrian refugees over a seven-year period from 2014 to 2021.

The government said the settlement scheme was in addition to the 5,000 Afghans already expected to move to the UK under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) – designed to offer local allies such as interpreters priority relocation to the UK.

Sandwell Council already has a priority system running for British war veterans to access housing and accommodation, but housing bosses are keen to ensure the support given to the new families does not impact on anyone already on the waiting list.

Abbey ward Labour councillor Bob Piper, said: “Whilst I am not aware of the details in respect of this statement, my personal view is that there is clearly a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, and the United Kingdom and other countries who were part of the occupying forces in that country has an obligation to people in that country to ensure their safety.

“I think all local authorities have a responsibility to ensure these Afghan refugees, many of whom placed their lives at risk working with UK troops in their country, are safely resettled in their communities.”

Councillor Jay Anandou, deputy leader of the opposition, said: “I welcome the initiative from the government and the support the Sandwell Council is offering to the fleeing families. I just like to say to the naysayers and people who are sceptical about this…these individuals and their families did the right thing at the time, risking their lives and their loved ones to support our men and women in Afghanistan. These families deserve our support and I call and pray upon the residents of Sandwell to welcome them.”

West Bromwich East MP Nicola Richards said: “The direction of travel in Afghanistan is beyond disappointing and it is a critical situation.

“We need to do all we can to get those people out who need to leave.”