Syrian refugee family thank Sidmouth

Many of us visit Sidmouth in search of peace and a moment to think but for the Alsawdi family, this calm is something they feared they'd never experience again.

Their home in Syria is a town, about the same size as Sidmouth. When the war there made life too dangerous for Wafaa and her husband Mazin to raise their family safely, they decided to leave.

Safe at home in Sidmouth, Mazin told ITV News why they'd made the decision to effectively become refugees.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR):

Mazin has little English but was determined, with the help of his daughter Shahed and some translations he'd made in Arabic, to speak to ITV for one reason: he wants to thank people in Sidmouth and beyond for giving his family a safe place to live.

Mazen worked in hospital security in Syria. His family had a happy life but, when war broke out, homes and buildings around them were bombed.

The hospital he worked in was destroyed and people they knew were killed.

Once they were granted permission to come to the UK, the Alsawadis were almost immediately driven to Sidmouth.

This East Devon town is a world away from life in Syria now.

According to United Nations figures, since the war began five and a half years ago, nearly five million Syrians have left the country with millions more displaced within Syria.

Their English teacher has explained how the Alsawadis are immersing themselves in life in the UK.

This family doesn't know why they were chosen to go to Sidmouth but they are eternally grateful that this is the place they're learning to call home.