More than 150 Ukrainians currently live in Milton Keynes new figures reveal

There are roughly 170 Ukrainians currently living in Milton Keynes, new figures show.

The data has been released by the Office of National Statistics to aid local authorities in emergency response planning amid the growing refugee crisis following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said the UK could accept more than 200,000 Ukrainian refugees, with the Home Office creating a family migration visa for those with immediate family in the UK.

It means spouses or civil partners, unmarried partners who have lived together for at least two years, children, parents, grandparents and siblings of Ukrainian nationals living in the UK can enter with a visa.

There are a total of 37,530 Ukrainians living in England and Wales, with up to 170 in Milton Keynes.

The figures also show that approximately 340 Russian nationals live in Milton Keynes – among 53,120 in England and Wales.

The United Nations has said more than 1 million people have fled Ukraine, while the European Union ultimately expects to receive 4 million refugees in total, and several million more to be displaced internally.

The UK's response has been criticised by opposition parties and refugee charities, with calls to waive visas entirely.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said this would be unsafe, arguing that "security and biometric checks are a fundamental part of our visa approval process worldwide and will continue".

Instead, Ms Patel announced a humanitarian sponsorship pathway, allowing individuals, businesses and other groups to sponsor Ukrainians' entry into the country.

However, the Refugee Council has said the Government must do more to help Ukrainians fleeing war.

"We are concerned that in reality it does not go far enough and could mean that far fewer Ukrainians are actually able to reach safety in the UK than the Government claims," said Enver Solomon, the Refugee Council chief executive.

He said: "A scheme offering humanitarian visas to Ukrainian families fleeing war and coming to the UK as refugees would be a far more effective way of offering sanctuary," and said the Government must work with the UN on a resettlement scheme and provide health, education and other services for Ukrainians when they arrive.

Ms Patel has said the expanded scheme means "an additional 100,000 Ukrainians could be eligible to come to the UK and access work and public services," adding that there is no limit on the numbers eligible.

"These measures have been designed to enable swift implementation, and that is the point, without the need for legislation or changes to immigration rules," Ms Patel added on waiving visas.

"The Ukrainian people need help immediately and we are bringing this in place now."