DECISION time is fast approaching for the Kosovan refugees who made their home in York after fleeing from the fighting in their own country.

Over 30 refugees are still living at the Howe Hill hostel, in Holgate, and another family of seven moved into other accommodation in the city some time ago.

But Home Office funding will cease on June 19 - a year after the refugees arrived - and Howe Hill hostel is to close after that.

A City of York Council spokesman said one family of five was definitely returning to Kosovo, and the rest of the refugees had yet to firmly decide what they were going to do.

But, he said, they had only until Monday to decide.

About half had signalled they had hopes of staying in Britain for a while - though none had officially applied for asylum.

Because they arrived before April they are not subject to the recent asylum legislation.

If they wished to stay it would be the council's responsibility to find accommodation for them. The authority was now looking at its options, but Howe Hill would still be closing on June 19.

The spokesman said: "We are coming to the end of the year which the Government said refugees from Kosovo could have in the country and many of the refugees living with us here in York are still having to weigh up all the implications of any decision they have to make.

"Whatever those decisions we will continue to provide advice and support where appropriate and that will include helping anyone seeking asylum to find temporary accommodation while their applications are considered by the

Home Office.

"It might be opportune to thank everyone across the city who has helped to make the refugees so welcome over the last year.

"Few of us in Britain can imagine the horrors which these refugees were escaping from and I know the refugees in the city are truly grateful for the warmth and generosity they have experienced from the people of York."

Meanwhile, a Bosnian man who left Sarajevo nearly ten years ago with his family said today he had been made to feel more than welcome by people in York.

Nedim Fazlic, 21, of Fewster Way, arrived in York when he was 13, with his brother Mirza and aunt Mubera. His mother Nafija followed him to York later.

The family settled in Haxby and Nedim started at Joseph Rowntree School in New Earswick.

"I found York very welcoming and thanks to the people of Britain I have just completed a degree in economics at Nottingham University," he said.

He said he had just got a summer job at Harrogate working with an examinations board and said he was now looking for anyone who could offer him a lift from York to Harrogate over the summer. Anyone able to help can contact him by telephoning 01904 673553.

andrew.hitchon@ycp.co.uk