The population of the UK has seen its sharpest annual increase in nearly 70 years driven mainly by immigration, official figures have revealed.

There were an estimated 65,648,000 people living in the country at the end of June last year.

Over the 12 months to the middle of 2016, numbers rose by 0.8 per cent or 538,000 - roughly equivalent to the size of Bradford.

London was growing twice as fast as Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland.

Over the 12 months to the middle of 2016, numbers rose by 0.8 per cent or 538,000 - roughly equivalent to the size of Bradford

Population growth in London was nearly triple that of the North East in the year to June 2016

In numerical terms that was the largest increase in population since the year to mid-1947, when it went up by 551,000.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said net international migration continued to be the main driver behind the growth, while there was also a rise in births and fewer deaths.

Natural change - the number of births minus the number of deaths - of 193,000 accounted for just over a third (35.8 per cent) of the overall increase.

Nearly two-thirds (62.4 per cent) was down to net international migration of 336,000.

The population of England grew the fastest, and has now exceeded 55million for the first time.

Neil Park, head of the Population Estimates Unit at the ONS, said: 'The population of the UK continued to grow in the year to mid-2016 at a similar rate to that seen over recent years.

NUMBERS IN LONDON RISE AT NEARLY TRIPLE RATE OF NORTH EAST Population growth in London was nearly triple that of the North East in the year to June 2016. Numbers in the capital rose by 1.3 per cent to nearly 8.8million. By contrast the increase in the North East was just 0.5 per cent to 2.6million. Eight of the 14 authorities where population went up by 2 per cent or more were in London. In Tower Hamlets the figure was 3.26 per cent. The population of Scotland increased by 31,700 (0.6 per cent) to 5,404,700, Wales saw a 14,100 increase (0.5 per cent) to 3,113,200, and Northern Ireland's population was up by 10,500 (0.6 per cent) to 1,862,100. Advertisement

'Net international migration continued to be the main driver, but there was also an increase in births and fewer deaths than last year.

'Population growth was not evenly distributed however, with London's growth rate more than twice that in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the three northern English regions.'

In the 11 years between mid-2005 and mid-2016, the population of the UK increased by just over five million people. The previous increase of five million took 35 years, between 1970 and 2005.

England saw the biggest jump in population over the year, with a rise of 481,800, or 0.9 per cent, to 55,268,100.

The population of Scotland increased by 31,700 (0.6 per cent) to 5,404,700, Wales saw a 14,100 increase (0.5 per cent) to 3,113,200, and Northern Ireland's population was up by 10,500 (0.6 per cent) to 1,862,100.

Most local authorities saw rises in their total population, and of 26 which showed falls, 17 were in coastal areas.

Eight of the 14 authorities where population went up by 2 per cent or higher were in London.

Statisticians also reported that the UK population continues to age but at a slower rate than in recent years.

Migration Watch UK chairman Lord Green of Deddington said: 'This record rise in our population is very largely the result of massive levels of immigration which accounted for nearly two-thirds of the increase.

'We are now at a turning point. The Brexit negotiations must achieve a substantial reduction in EU migration. Failing that we will have to build the equivalent of a city the size of Birmingham every two years for the indefinite future. Any such outcome will be deeply opposed by the public, especially since nearly three-quarters of us believe that the country is already crowded.'

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said net international migration continued to be the main driver behind the growth, while there was also a rise in births and fewer deaths. Figures are in thousands

The population profile in London (pictured right) is significantly younger than the UK as a whole (pictured left), leading to a much higher birth rate

Alistair Currie, head of campaigns at Population Matters, said: 'These figures for the year up to June 2016 reflect the situation as it has been for many years now, with net migration being the highest driver of population growth.

'The most recent migration figures, however, indicate fewer people coming from the EU and more citizens of other EU states returning home.

'If this continues and the 900,000 Britons living elsewhere in the EU start considering their positions, population dynamics in the UK could start to change in significant ways.'

He added: 'More people means more pressure on everything, from our food to our housing and from buses to butterflies.

'With Brexit negotiations likely to have such a significant impact, it is inexplicable that the UK still does not have an integrated, effective and realistic policy framework for population.'