Home Secretary Theresa May agreed to admit a few hundred Syrian refugees yesterday amid allegations that Britain is snubbing a bigger UN-backed scheme.

Ms May told MPs that Britain's scheme would focus on giving refuge to survivors of torture and violence, women and children in need of medical care and victims of sexual violence.

She said "several hundred" refugees would be admitted under the new programme, in addition to nearly 3,500 Syrian asylum-seekers who were already in Britain.