A Kent MP has accused the Home Secretary of lying to Parliament over the government's response to the Ukraine refugee crisis.

North Thanet Conservative Sir Roger Gale has launched a scathing attack on the Home Secretary after she told the House of Commons yesterday a "visa application centre has now been set up en-route to Calais".

But officials have since confirmed that is not the case - the facility for Ukrainian refugees in Lille has not yet been launched.

Sir Roger, whose constituency includes Herne Bay and Margate, claims Ms Patel misled MPs and "under any normal administration" such an error would be a resignation matter.

Addressing colleagues in Westminster this afternoon, the veteran Tory said: "There is not a visa centre at Lille yet.

"That was untrue, and under any normal administration that in itself would be a resignation matter.

"A week ago, the Home Secretary announced a humanitarian sponsorship visa. There is yet no humanitarian sponsorship visa.

"It's time the Home Office granted a visa waiver and allowed children and all of those adults with Ukrainian passports to come into the country now."

Posting on Twitter earlier today, Sir Roger added: "The Home Secretary has misled the House of Commons.

"There was no visa application centre ‘en-route to Calais’ and refugees from the war in Ukraine are being sent back to Paris or Brussels to obtain visas."

Home Office minister Kevin Foster argued Ms Patel had “clarified her remarks” on Monday, before dismissing calls to grant a visa waiver for all Ukrainians due to the need for “key security checks”.

He also confirmed 500 visas have been issued and the Ukraine family scheme visa has received more than 10,000 applications since its launch on Friday.

This follows reports hundreds of Ukrainians have been told in Calais to travel back to Paris - 180 miles away - or Belgian capital Brussels to apply for a visa, where they face lengthy waits.

Lille, meanwhile, is almost 70 miles from the port city.

A government spokesman said: “Anyone wishing to make an application under the Ukraine family scheme should apply online and then to travel to their nearest visa application centre so they can undergo vital security checks.

"We are in the process of establishing a second visa application centre in France, which will be by referral from Border Force only to support Ukrainians.

"The primary visa application centre in France will remain in Paris.”