Two Ukrainian refugees living in Frensham are in urgent need of a new home.

They are Tanya, a single mother, and her 15-year-old son Vlad, who goes to Weydon School.

Tanya’s friend Hilary Lee-Corbin appealed to the Herald to help them.

Hilary said: “I’ve known Tanya for almost two years now and I’ve come to regard her as a friend. Tanya has very little English but we converse through our mobile phones, and that is fine.

“I first met her through an advertisement in the village shop and she has helped with my housework ever since. I’ve found her friendly and efficient.”

Before the war in Ukraine, Tanya was a successful teacher in Kyiv, living in a large house and enjoying her social life with friends and family.

Tanya and Vlad arrived in England almost two years ago and have been very well looked after by kind and generous hosts.

All they came with was Tanya’s phone, and everything she owns has been provided by caring people in Frensham. They have been living in a small house in their hosts’ garden and have been very pleased with it.

Tanya said: “They have been so kind and they have helped us as much as they possibly could.”

But their hosts now need the house to accommodate relatives. Tanya understands why they have to move out and says she will always hold their hosts in high esteem.

When they arrived Tanya was worried about the language barrier and she has not been able to attend any English courses in Farnham because the last bus back to Frensham is at six o’clock and the course is in the evening. To earn money for herself and Vlad she set up a house cleaning business.

She said: “I would love to get a job as a teacher here but the language is a great problem and I can only do physical work. I have to adapt. It hasn’t been easy and I look forward to returning to Ukraine and to the job I love.”

Although many of her relatives stayed in Kyiv, Tanya came to England mainly for her son’s safety. Tanya and Vlad visited Ukraine for a month last summer to see if they could return.

But their experiences put them off. Tanya said: “It was terrible to hear explosions in the middle of the night. Missiles were constantly directed at Kyiv and some were shot down by anti-aircraft guns in the place where we live.

“We jumped out of our beds and sheltered in the bathroom – the only room without windows. To feel the house shake was awful and on one occasion I thought the windows had been blown out, but it was a neighbour’s house.

“Vlad didn’t want to return to England because he didn’t want to leave friends and family in Kyiv, but it was the safest thing to do.”

Anyone who can give Tanya and Vlad a new place to live can email Hilary Lee-Corbin at [email protected]