The retired bishop, who was head of the Church of England from 1991 to 2002, has backed calls for British military intervention to help create 'safe enclaves' within the war-torn country.

His comments echoed the growing impatience among some Conservative backbenchers with former defence secretary Liam Fox saying 'handwringing' about the plight of the refugees is not enough and action is needed to deal with the 'root of the problem'.

David Cameron is now facing growing pressure to extend RAF air strikes into Syria as the worsening conflict threatens to drive increasing numbers of desperate refugees to seek sanctuary in Europe.

Writing in The Sunday Telegraph, Lord Carey said today: 'I do not consider it enough to send aid to refugee camps in the Middle East.

'Rather, there must be renewed military and diplomatic efforts to crush the twin menaces of Islamic State and al-Qaeda once and for all.

'Make no mistake: this may mean air strikes and other British military assistance to create secure and safe enclaves.'

His intervention came after Chancellor George Osborne acknowledged that a comprehensive plan was needed to tackle the refugee crisis 'at source'.

Speaking to reporters at a meeting of G20 finance ministers in Turkey yesterday, he said that meant dealing with the 'evil' regime of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad as well as the militant jihadists of ISIS.

Nevertheless, Mr Cameron remains wary of staging another Commons vote on military action in Syria after his damaging defeat two years ago unless he can be sure of winning.

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