A controversial campaign to home 200 refuges in Wycombe has been rejected by councillors.

UPDATE: Defeated campaigners slam "hard-hearted" councillors following controversial refugee vote.

Almost 40 members of Wycombe District Council voted against tonight’s motion to consider welcoming some of most vulnerable refugees to the district.

The Conservative-led council voted against the proposal, despite more than 75 members of the public showing their support on the evening.

The large group of residents made their feelings known during proceedings, wearing an item of red to represent the "blood of the Syrians being killed".

In recent months, hundreds of residents signed a petition – which was delivered to the council in October - asking for Wycombe to react to the humanitarian crisis.

Campaigners hoped to give support to either 200 people or 50 families in the coming months, but this proposal was dismissed at tonight’s full council meetings.

39 councillors voted against the motion, while five Labour councillors and the three East Wycombe Independents voted for action.

Both WDC chairman Ian McEnnis and vice-chairman Mahboob Hussain abstained from the vote.