Retired couple Steve and Anna Pearce, of Ilkley, are busy preparing their garage apartment, which will become home to Kateryna, 28, Daryna, 33, and Daryna's four-year-old son Jaroslav.

Kateryna and Daryna fled Kyiv as soon as the war with Russia broke out at the end of February. Kateryna had to walk out of Kyiv as soon as Russian troops made their advance while Daryna and her son had to catch a bus out of their small town close to the capital.

Since fleeing they have been stranded in Lublin, a Polish city close to the Ukrainian border. But now Ilkley couple Steve and Anna Pearce have come forward to help.

The sisters have hailed the couple as a "miracle" for offering them a safe haven.

"It’s a little bit strange because it’s a new experience for me and my sister especially," said Kateryna. "When I saw photos of the family, it was like a miracle.

"We want to go back to Ukraine now so much, but I know I can take something beautiful from this situation.

"This situation is horrible, I know, but we have to find something. This is an amazing opportunity to meet people like this."

Mr Pearce said he was moved to register with Homes for Ukraine as a father and grandfather watching images of young women and their children fleeing the Russian invasion.

“We could relate to what we saw and we couldn’t really look ourselves in the face and find a reason not to help,” he said. “This has been a big leap of faith but then these woman have had the resilience to get this far. We felt compelled to do something.”

The sisters matched with the Pearce family after Mr Pearce made contact with the Leeds-based travel company GOAT Roadtrip. The company's chief executive Kevin Cabra Netherton has made it his business to help bring Ukrainian refugees to safety in the UK after fleeing the horrors of the Russian invasion by physically travelling to Poland to pick them up.

Kevin Cabra Netherton (right) with friend Oliver Reynolds (left) with Kateryna and Daryna (right to left). (Photo: Kevin Cabra Netherton)

Mr Pearce said: "I saw a Look North report, went online and it was easy to find their website. I texted Kevin and he got straight back to us. It has all happened within the last ten days."

The Ilkley family has been vetted and are now just waiting for the sisters to arrive.

Mr Pearce said: "We had an emotional call with them yesterday. They have had to leave their husband and boyfriend behind and their mother and grandmother. They have been on the road for three weeks now and they were tearful and mentally exhausted. They don't know what is ahead of them and they have no idea where Ilkley is and they have put their faith in us.

"What struck us both is that they don't really want to be here - they don't want to leave home. They are just normal people like us.

"We have established a personal connection now and we liked them and we are so glad we are doing this even though we were a bit apprehensive at first."

Mr Pearce added: "When they arrive it won't be straight forward. If they have official visas they are entitled to work or claim benefits but I am not relishing that fight.

"It could be eight weeks before they get any money and we are hoping friends and the Ilkley community will rally round to help them financially."

Since the Homes for Ukraine scheme was launched across the UK, more than 150,000 people have signed up. Hosts receive up to £350 a month for opening up their homes to refugees but they must be able to name their potential visitors on an application form.

Mr Pearce said: "We registered with Homes for Ukraine with good intent but if you don't have a family connection the only way to get someone is to make contact with someone like Kevin who is out there. They have placed someone in Guiseley and there are others coming. Kevin is very committed to doing his bit."

Speaking from Poland entrepreneur Kevin said he was building a Ukrainian community in the Ilkley and Guiseley area. He has processed 30 visas so far with 20 to do next week.

"It is going to be a fantastic community and it is going to be temporary," he said. "They want nothing more than to return to Ukraine.

"We have provided the first bit of certainty these people have had in their lives in recent months. The overriding emotion they have is not sadness or a sense of danger - it is stress - stress due to uncertainty and what we are providing is certainty.

"I have never done anything like this before and there is a mix of emotions. I am dealing with people who have gone through trauma which is difficult but it is an absolute privilege to talk to them and it is incredibly rewarding when we find a host family."

Kevin is appealing for more volunteers to help him in the UK and in Poland and has launched a crowdfunding appeal as he is not a charity and is funding everything himself. He would also like to hear from more host families in the UK.

Visit https://www.goatroadtrip.com/ukraine/ to find out how you can help.

If you would like to support Kateryna and Daryna financially or would be able to help them with the benefits process when they arrive in Ilkley email Mr Pearce at steve.pearce6wpc@gmail.com