YORK'S remaining Kosovar refugees have moved out of the hostel where they have been living for the past year and in to City of York Council homeless accommodation.

At the Howe Hill Hostel, Holgate, today, a small number of staff remained but it is understood all the refugees moved out on Monday.

The entrance has been boarded up and the hostel is being cleared out in preparation to be sold.

The Evening Press reported last week that 21 of York's original 38 refugees had applied to remain in this country and have been given homeless status and transferred to another hostel in the city.

Twelve returned to Kosovo last week and five have moved to London.

A spokeswoman for the Home Office said today it is now the responsibility of the local authority to find the refugees new accommodation.

A spokesman for City of York Council said: "They will be treated in York as any other homeless people. The Government will pay the cost."

It is understood the refugees will continue to receive benefits while they are waiting for their applications for asylum and exceptional leave to remain (ELR) to be processed by the Home Office.

A Home Office spokesman said: "Over 50 per cent of Kosovans have left the country."

She said 2,151 have returned since the Home Office withdrew funding on Monday's deadline and a further 350 are expected to leave on flights tomorrow.

Only when the refugees are granted ELR or full refugee status can they work in this country. If their applications are refused they will still receive benefits for 28 days.

Meanwhile, refugees in the Harrogate area are said to be in the process of moving out of reception centres where they have been living for the past year and into properties owned by a housing association.

Picture:Howe Hill Hostel in York-refugees have moved out