Cameron says UK will take in 'thousands more' Syrian refugees

UK Prime Minister David Cameron, speaking from Lisbon where he is meeting with European leaders, has said the UK will take in 'thousands more Syrian refugees' from camps at Syria's borders.

"Britain will act with its head and its heart, providing refuge for those in need while working on long term solutions to this crisis," Cameron said in his speech.

"That means bringing to an end the conflicts that are driving so many to flee, including the bloodbath that has engulfed Syria.”

Since the Syrian civil war began in 2011, the UK has taken in around 5,000 refugees from the country.

Cameron, who said earlier this week that resettling people was not the answer to the EU's refugee crisis, has come under pressure over the past 24 hours from UK politicians across the spectrum.