David Cameron: UK will take thousands more refugees from Syrian border camps

Britain will take "thousands more" refugees from camps on the borders of war-torn Syria, as well as providing an additional £100 million in aid for those fleeing the conflict, Prime Minister David Cameron has announced.

Downing Street declined to put a precise figure on the number of Syrians who will be admitted to the country, saying that details of the scheme were being finalised and will be announced next week.

Speaking during visits to Portugal and Spain, Mr Cameron said that Britain had a "moral responsibility" to help refugees. But there was no indication that Britain would be willing to resettle any of the hundreds of thousands of desperate people who have made perilous Mediterranean crossings by boat to reach Europe over the past few months.

The £100 million funding pledge for refugee camps on Syria's borders brings the total contribution from the UK to more than £1 billion, making it Britain's largest ever response to a humanitarian crisis, said Mr Cameron.