A NORTH-East town with the largest proportion of asylum seekers in the country is to lead a regional project to show the impact of refugees.

Middlesbrough will get Government funding for the North East Strategic Migration Partnership (NESMP), which promotes understanding about asylum seekers and immigration.

It will also show what is needed in terms of support for asylum seeker and refugee networks, and research the social and economic impact on areas in the North-East.

The regional partnership is being hosted and managed by Middlesbrough Council.

The decision to develop the NESMP was taken by Cllr Brenda Thompson, Middlesbrough Council’s executive member for supporting communities.

Cllr Thompson said: “There are many benefits to Middlesbrough and to the wider North-East in making these proposals a reality.

“By developing a positive partnership approach we will further develop the understanding of migration, be in a strong position to address issues and to give valuable support to asylum seeker and refugee networks.”

The decision means Middlesbrough can access £67,000 of Government funding to take the NESMP forward until the end of March 2015, but further funding is likely to be made available on an annual basis.

In recent years Middlesbrough has seen an increase in the number of asylum seekers placed in the town through Government funded contracts awarded on a regional basis.

Government guidelines stipulate no local authority in England should need to accommodate more than one asylum seeker per 200 of population.

However, Middlesbrough, with a population of around 138,000, is currently the only area in the country exceeding this quota, with 982 asylum seekers there, or 142 per cent of the prescribed limit.

In recent years the town has seen an increase in the number of asylum seekers placed there through Government funded contracts awarded due to its cheap housing.