Anglican Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu has strongly criticised the inhuman UK policy on asylum seekers and has also spoken against the anti-homosexuality bill currently going through the Ugandan parliament.

The patron saint of children and the imprisoned - and the inspiration for the modern day Father Christmas - St Nicholas was turned away at the gate of the Yarl’s Wood Detention Centre when he tried to deliver gifts to the children inside.

This Sunday Christian congregations across the country will remember and pray for oppressed and persecuted people seeking sanctuary in the United Kingdom as well as for the workers at the UK Border Agency.