Religious figures urge May to take in children from Calais 'Jungle' camp

Some of Britain's most senior religious figures are urging the Prime Minister to allow nearly 400 refugee children into the UK before the Calais 'jungle' camp is demolished.

Former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Williams, and high-ranking names from the Muslim and Jewish faiths in Britain are among the signatories of an open letter urging action against the "stain on the conscience" of Britain.

It calls for Theresa May to allow 397 child refugees living in the camp to be allowed to enter Britain, after French President Francois Hollande said it would close before winter, with 9,000 inhabitants dispersed nationwide.

In the letter, organised by the Citizens UK charity, they tell the Prime Minister that the children, some as young as eight, "have fled conflict and persecution, are now stuck in Northern France, deeply traumatised and at great risk as well documented by the anti-slavery commissioner you yourself appointed while Home Secretary".

They add: "We are now just days away from the start of the full demolition of the Calais camp.

"None of us want the Calais 'Jungle' to exist. It is a stain on the conscience of both France and Britain.

"But in haste to clear it the need to protect children is even more paramount. During the last such demolition the charity Help Refugees documented that 129 children went missing.

"The time to act is now."

Other signatories include Muslim Council of Britain secretary general Harun Rashid Khan and Laura Janner-Klausner, the senior rabbi to the Movement of Reform Judaism.

They are joined by the Right Rev Paul Butler, Bishop of Durham, the Right Rev David Walker, Bishop of Manchester, the Right Rev Peter Hill, Bishop of Barking, the Right Rev Adrian Newman, Bishop of Stepney and the Right Rev Christopher Chessun, Bishop of Southwark.