Conservative MPs in Oxfordshire fell into line behind the government to oppose a bid to offer sanctuary to 3,000 child refugees from Europe.

In a House of Commons vote on Monday night, Wantage MP and Culture Minister Ed Vaizey, Banbury MP Victoria Prentis and John Howell, MP for Henley, all voted against Lord Dubs' amendment to the Immigration Bill. 

Nicola Blackwood, MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, and Prime Minister David Cameron, Witney MP, both missed the vote.

Lord Dubs' amendment would have committed the UK to taking in 3,000 unaccompanied and at-risk children from slum-like refugee camps in Europe.

The Labour peer's proposal was also backed by the Liberal Democrats and the Scottish National Party but was defeated as MPs voted 294 to 276, a majority 18.

After the vote, Mr Howell wrote on his website: "I felt this was the wrong way of tackling the problem. Some who have written to me claim that I have 'turned away 3,000 Syrian child refugees from the UK'; that it is sickening and disgusting.

"The have failed to recognise that I voted against the Dubs amendment because I genuinely thought it was wrong."

Mr Howell said the amendment would have removed pressure on developed countries in Europe, adding that "the only sensible answer is to involve ourselves in the situation before children try to come to Europe".

He said the government was also supporting the United Nations, Save the Children and the International Rescue Committee to assist unaccompanied or separated children.

Mr Howell added: "This is the right way of dealing with the problem."

The vote was also described as "a difficult decision" by Mr Vaizey, who said he knew "how strongly many of my constituents feel about the situation".

The Wantage MP added: "I also know that the Government minister responsible has looked at this issue very carefully indeed.  

"This was a difficult decision to take and not something that Parliament has decided lightly. 

"However, it is important that the support the UK undertakes does not make matters worse, or lead to inadvertent consequences.  

"We do not want a situation where people traffickers encourage more children to put their lives at risk by making the dangerous sea crossing to Europe. 

"This is why we are focusing our support through the deployment of aid to the region and the new resettlement scheme.”

Victoria Prentis added: “It is absolutely right that we do all we can to help unaccompanied children. 

"However, we must also be confident that we only consider those children who have no familial ties in the region. 

"It would be wrong to separate children whose granny or aunty, for example, remain nearby. 

"Rather than remove them, we should look to reunite these families and discourage them from making the dangerous and difficult journey to Europe. 

"These concerns were at the forefront of my mind when I voted on Monday evening. I have also discussed them at length with Save the Children, and hope to visit the region in the coming months.”