Giant message welcoming Afghan refugees appears on Tenby beach

The artwork was created by a local group of artists called Choose Love Tenby Credit: Choose Love Tenby

A giant message in support of Afghan refugees has appeared on Tenby's North Beach.

The message which reads "Refugees Welcome" next to a lifebuoy with Afghanistan written inside appeared on the beach on Sunday.

Some 20,000 Afghans are to be welcomed into the UK over the coming years as part of a scheme to provide sanctuary for those most at risk of persecution by the Taliban.

Thousands have now gathered at the airport in Kabul in a bid to flee before US troops withdraw from the country on August 31.

The message appeared on a Tenby beach on Sunday Credit: Choose Love Tenby

The beach art was created by artists from Choose Love Tenby and commissioned by anti-racism group Stand Up to Racism West Wales in support of Afghans being resettled in the area.

The group say support for the message behind the artwork has been overwhelmingly positive.

Patrick Connellan from Stand Up to Racism West Wales said: "The vast majority are very supportive and I think that most people understand that the UK owes a huge debt to people who want to come from Afghanistan to live here."

"The sand art helps get the message across because it's visually stimulating and people take photographs of it.

"It's a wonderful thing where art has become a political tool."

On Tuesday, the first minister confirmed every council in Wales has pledged to help with the resettlement of refugees from Afghanistan.

It means all 22 local authorities in the country will help with the accommodation and support of vulnerable people fleeing the Taliban.

Speaking to ITV News, Mark Drakeford said work was continuing to maximise the support available to people.


Read more: