The number of Romanian and Bulgarian immigrants to Britain more than doubled in the past year, to 28,000, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), cited by AFP. The increase was registered after labour market restrictions were lifted in early-2014 for citizens of the two countries.

The data also showed that net migration to Britain increased by more than a third in the past year, reports AFP. The difference between migrants leaving and arriving in Britain rose to 243,000 in the year to March, from 175,000 the previous year. Two-thirds of all immigrants to Britain during the year came from the European Union.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com