The Red Road flats, in the north of Glasgow, stand in one of the city's poorest neighbourhoods.

Glasgow city council acknowledges that the homes provided for the refugees are difficult to let to people living locally, but council workers have laboured round the clock to redecorate them, and furniture, fridges and cookers have been installed.

Food parcels, toiletries and radios have also been provided, adds city council spokeswoman Karen Campbell.

Residential social work staff and interpreters are on hand 24 hours a day and volunteers are cooking for the refugees until they settle in.

Children will each have an education assessment and should be able to go to nearby schools.

Ms Campbell says the refugees are showing 'tremendous resilience'.

'They are already organising their own clothing store, their own creche and their own cooking.'

She adds: 'They are getting their networks up and running.'

Dr Pettigrew says the flats themselves are 'beautiful' and there is 'a very good atmosphere'.

But she is concerned about the immediate neighbourhood, which has a drugs problem, and about the fact that there is little provision for all the refugees to meet together as a community.