THE FIRST Ukrainian refugee family arrived in Farnham on Tuesday – and plans are already under way in the town to roll out the red carpet for those fleeing the Russian invasion.

It is understood the family of five – two women both called Olha and three children called Mark, 6, Yuliia, 9, and Michael, 10 – were collected from Luton airport on Tuesday morning.

They then travelled to their relatives Tony and Oksana’s home near Farnham Hospital in Lower Hale.

It comes after a gruelling two-week, 1,500-mile journey across Europe for them.

After fleeing their home in Kyiv on the first night of the war they crossed the border into Hungary and Slovakia, before arriving in Poland and finally flying onto the UK from Warsaw after securing their visas this week.

The two women’s husbands were not permitted to leave Ukraine, as is the case for all men aged 18 to 60.

A day after their arrival, Tony said the family had undergone a traumatic and stressful journey.

But, he added, the generosity they had experienced along the way was “overwhelming”, and they are “all well, and safe now”.

He added: “Yesterday was a joyful day – they can stay with us as long as they need to rest and repair.” Their UK visa is valid for three years.

Under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, announced this week by the government, households in the UK will be offered £350 a month to open their homes to people fleeing the war in Ukraine.

In anticipation of more refugees arriving in the Farnham area, the mayor of Farnham, Councillor Alan Earwaker, hosted an informal gathering of a range of local groups and individuals on Monday to see how Farnham can offer a “proper welcome” to those fleeing the war.

This group included the Rt Rev  Dr Christopher Herbert, Bridget Biddell DL, the Farnham Lions, Hedgehogs and Rotary; the Dempster Trust and the Farnham Maltings.

Farnham Town Council is compiling an informal list of people offering to help.

This will then be shared with Waverley Borough Council, the authority responsible for housing.

The informal group will meet again on March 24 to help prepare a welcome for any refugees who end up in Farnham.