West London's boroughs are prepared to do their bit to help Syrian refugees desperate to flee their war-torn country.

Councils and council leaders have responded to Prime Minister David Cameron's pledge that the UK would accept 20,000 refugees from Syria over the next five years.

More than 4m refugees have fled their home country as conflict involving the Islamic State continues.

Across Britain, many have rallied to call on the country to welcome refugees.

A Solidarity with Refugees march is due to take place in London on Saturday (September 12) from midday, with participants meeting at Marble Arch, before marching to Downing Street.

Around 86,000 people have responded to a Facebook event to say they will be attending the march.

A petition calling on the UK to accept more asylum seekers has been signed more more than 430,000 people.

And councils across London have now begun to respond to the calls of residents.

Hounslow Council

Councillor Steve Curran, leader of Hounslow Council, said: “Communities across London are shocked by the suffering of Syrian refugees and people are contacting their councils with offers of help and calls for action. Should the UK change its stance on increasing the number of refugees accepted, Hounslow like most boroughs across London, stands ready to help.

“Four years of war in Syria has led to the worst humanitarian crisis in a generation. Local government is increasingly being looked to for leadership on the issue.

"Hounslow Council would certainly support 10 refugee families providing this was funded fully by the government. These families would have to be accommodated in the private rented sector, not council housing, but like most other London boroughs, we are in the midst of a housing crisis, particularly in the private rented sector with spiralling rents.”

Kensington & Chelsea Council:

A council spokesman told getwestlondon: "We are waiting on direction from Central Government."

Hammersmith & Fulham Council:

Hammersmith & Fulham residents have been deeply moved by the tragic scenes of families fleeing their homes across Syria and neighbouring countries.

One of the borough’s councillors Ali Hashem, who represents North End Ward in Fulham, himself fled conflict in Syria as a refugee many years ago. He is backing the council’s call to welcome refugees in need.

Now, the ouncil is calling on the government to take urgent action to enable it to give the necessary support.

Council leader, Stephen Cowan, said: “Like our residents, we have been deeply touched by the terrible plight of people fleeing the horrific war in the Middle East and other humanitarian crises.

“The atrocities that appear in our media are just the tip of the iceberg causing the biggest refugee crisis in a generation.

“There is a long British tradition of welcoming and supporting refugees and Hammersmith & Fulham has always done its bit by offering shelter and support. Indeed, many refugees have subsequently made invaluable contributions to our borough and our country.

“It’s critical that the UK Government now urgently implements a system to identify refugee families so that H&F and other councils can do the right thing and provide the necessary support.

“Finding homes for refugees is not easy in London where the housing crisis causes dreadful hardship for local people, but we have a humanitarian duty to assist families in such desperate need. We know from speaking to residents over recent days and weeks that many stand ready to help us in finding accommodation and to work with refugee families as they arrive to help them recover from their prolonged ordeals and rebuild their lives.

“We are also urging anyone who feels able to, to make a financial donation and to sign the petition calling for the government to take urgent action.”

Ealing Council

Ealing Council leader Julian Bell said: “We will be doing everything that we can locally to support refugees in the current crisis. We will be working closely with the government on proposals and are waiting for further information on what funding they will be making available to support us to accommodate refugees in the borough. I am meeting with the mayor and other borough leaders on Thursday (September 10) to coordinate a London-wide response.”

Hundreds of people in Ealing have signed an online petition saying refugees are welcome in the borough.

Donations:

St Saviour's Wendell Park, in Cobbold Road, White City, are collecting items to send to the Calais refugee camps on Friday (September 18), between 9am and 6pm, and Saturday (September 19), from 10am-6pm.

Shoes, tents, jackets, travelling bags, socks, candles, belts, tracksuit trousers, jeans, blankets, sleeping bags, soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste, plastic bags, woolly hats, pants, pots and pans are all needed.

Women's and children's clothes and shoes are not needed right now, neither are sheets, pillows, suits, town shoes, jumpers, wellies, nappies or feminine hygiene products.