Catholics in England and Wales are to be asked to find homes for thousands of Afghanistan refugees fleeing the Taliban.

Parishes will be requested to make large houses available for extended families and to provide the Muslim refugees with such items as clothing and computer technology.

Ordinary Catholics will be encouraged to befriend the Afghans and to introduce them to local facilities such as doctors’ surgeries and schools.

The extensive involvement of the Catholic Church in the resettlement of about 20,000 Afghan migrants in the UK in the next five years was announced by Auxiliary Bishop Paul McAleenan of Westminster, the lead bishop for migrants and refugees.