A refugee support group has outgrown its old offices and moved into new headquarters which are seven times larger.

Bradford Action For Refugees officially opened its new base on Tuesday.

Already the number of clients seeking help and being helped have soared, said operations manager Vicki Greenman.

“We’re not having to lock the doors and turn people away now,” she said.

More women are also coming into the new centre in Piccadilly at the back of the Post Office in Darley Street. It is seeing between 300 and 400 people a month, dealing with about 1,700 enquiries.

Miss Greenman said: “Some are new people, some are repeat but demand is growing and so are we.

“We want to become the hub for West Yorkshire so this move from Carlisle Business Centre was essential.”

The organisation was set up in 1993 for the Bosnia crisis – now it’s biggest client group is from Iraq and Iran. The second biggest group of those wanting help are from Palestine, Sudan and The Congo. The new headquarters in the Mary Grimshaw building has a waiting room, a separate area for men and women and families, a play area and a resource room.

As well as offering benefits, housing and immigration advice the group runs a befriending and volunteering service to involve clients in the community.