We must refuse to take 3,000 migrant children, by the PM: Cameron says caving in would just encourage massive new influx of refugees.

David Cameron was under pressure from charities and opposition MPs to act, but said caving in would encourage thousands of youngsters to undertake dangerous across the Mediterranean (pictured, migrants in Macedonia).

Mr Cameron faced down his critics - saying 'no country in Europe has been more generous than Britain in funding refugee camps, whether they are in Syria, Turkey, Lebanon or Jordan'. Rather than taking children direct from mainland Europe, the UK is to work with UNHCR on an initiative to identify and resettle unaccompanied refugee children direct from conflict regions such as Syria.

David Cameron's decision on child refugees comes only days after the International Development Secretary dropped a heavy hint that the UK would take in 3,000 youngsters from Europe.

On Sunday, The Observer newspaper claimed the PM was close to giving in to demands by charities and taking children directly from the continent.

No 10 insiders dismissed the report, insisting that no decision had been taken. But Justine Greening told Dermot Murnaghan on Sky News: 'We've steadily evolved our approach as this crisis has evolved, we've been right at the forefront, frankly, of helping children who have been affected by this crisis and will continue to look at how we can do that over the coming days and weeks.' Her comments followed a visit to refugee camps in France on Saturday by Jeremy Corbyn.

The Labour leader called on Mr Cameron to offer children not just a refuge in the UK but proper homes and education, saying: 'We must reach out the hand of humanity to the victims of war.'