Net immigration to Britain from EU states has fallen to its lowest level in a decade, new official statistics revealed today.

The number of EU citizens from central and eastern Europe, including from Poland, living in the UK is falling - but the number of western Europeans is still going up.

Overall arrivals from Europe in the year to September were at 57,000, the lowest level since 2009.

Immigration from countries outside the trade bloc hit their highest level in almost 15 years in the year to September as overall arrivals to the UK rose to 283,000 people, according to the Office for National Statistics.

But it was offset by a continued fall in arrivals from the European Union since the Brexit referendum.

Some Poles - including Bartek, left, told MailOnline they would never leave because their families were British as well as Polish - but others claimed life was now 's***' in Britain after Brexit.

The number of EU citizens from central and eastern Europe - known as the EU8 and including Poland - living in the UK is falling according to the latest data (pictured)

Net immigration to the UK has risen slightly to 283,000 people, new official statistics revealed today (pictured)

Theresa May's official spokesman said the figures showed the UK was 'continuing to attract and retain highly skilled workers, including doctors and nurses'

In the 12 months to the end of September 2018, there were 627,000 people who moved to live in the UK.

At the same time, 345,000 moved out of the country permanently.

The Office for National Statistics figures show the number of arrivals from outside the EU is at 261,000, the highest level since 2004.

Theresa May's official spokesman said the figures showed the UK was 'continuing to attract and retain highly skilled workers, including doctors and nurses'.

'I'll stay until the British kick me out': Polish waiter says he will not join the 'Brexodus' Bartek Katana, 45, told MailOnline he would not be quitting Britain Bartek Katana, 45, moved from Poland to London 15 years ago, and plans to stay here until 'the British kick me out' - despite his wages going down since arriving. Bartek, who works as a waiter and lives with his wife and four children in Streatham, south west London, said his children are 'more British than English now'. He said: 'We don't plan to go anywhere, we'll stay unless the British kick us out. 'My children are more British than Polish now, they speak much better English than Polish, so does my wife. This is our home now. 'The main difference since I arrived has been my wages - they've gone down since I came here 15 years ago. Everything is a lot more expensive. ' Advertisement

He said: 'We are committed to reducing immigration to sustainable levels, which is the tens of thousands.

'The Prime Minister has always been clear that it will take time to achieve that target.'

Asked what the PM's response was to spiralling non-EU migration - which is already subject to controls - her spokesman said: 'Our commitment is to reduce net migration.

'We keep all routes in to the UK under review.'

Lord Green of Deddington, Chairman of Migration Watch UK, said: 'It is a real concern that non-EU net migration has risen still further to more than a quarter of a million even before the government has implemented its proposals to loosen the work permit system.

'It's no surprise that EU net migration has fallen further given the extraordinary uncertainty prevailing over Brexit.'

Matthew Fell, the CBI's chief UK policy director, said: 'These figures confirm fewer EU workers are coming to the UK, exacerbating labour and skills shortages across many sectors, from farm labourers to engineers.

Businesses cannot succeed without access skills and labour, which is why it's so important the government delivers a post-Brexit immigration system which is both open and controlled.'

Stephen Clarke, an economic analyst at the Resolution Foundation think tank, said: 'While UK politicians are seemingly unable to provide any clarity on where Britain is heading post-Brexit, EU migrants are increasingly doing so – by leaving.

'EU migration is now at its lowest level in a decade – a fall that is being driven by fewer EU migrants coming to the UK for work.'

The Office for National Statistics figures show the number of arrivals from outside the EU is at the highest level since 2004. But it was offset by a continued fall in arrivals from the European Union since the Brexit referendum. Arrivals from Europe are at the lowest level since 2009

'I don't know what will happen after Brexit but I want to stay. I love it' Matgorzata Naroznik came here to send money home to Poland and fell in love with Britain A Polish woman who moved to London two years ago says she has no plans to leave because she has 'found her place in the world'. Matgorzata Naroznik, who moved to Croydon, south west London, on her own in 2017, said she plans to stay for the rest of her life. The 24-year-old shopworker said: 'I moved here to save money to send to my dad - who lives in Poland - and on a holiday to Japan. 'But now I have no plans to leave, I love it and want to spend the rest of my life here - I feel like I've found my place in the world. 'It's so different in the UK - the people in London are very nice and so is the city. 'I don't know what will happen in the next one or two years because of Brexit but I want to stay.' Advertisement

Jay Lindop, Director of the Centre for International Migration, Office for National Statistics, said: 'Decisions to migrate are complex and a person's decision to move to or from the UK will always be influenced by a range of factors, including work, study and family reasons.

'Different patterns for EU and non-EU migration have emerged since mid-2016, when the EU referendum vote took place.

'Due to increasing numbers arriving for work and study, non-EU net migration is now at the highest level since 2004.

'In contrast, EU net migration, while still adding to the population as a whole, has fallen to a level last seen in 2009.

'We are also now seeing more EU8 citizens – those from Central and Eastern European countries, for example Poland – leaving the UK than arriving.'

Overall 57,000 more EU nationals lived in the UK in September 2018 than 12 months previously. The rate of annual increase was almost 200,000 in June 2016.

Arrivals from the rest of the world have continued to rise steadily. Net migration was 261,000 - compared to just below 200,000 in June 2016.

The number of people coming to Britain for work has continued to fall sharply to 231,000, driven by the plunge in European arrivals.

By contrast, the number of people coming to study is up - rising to 217,000, with non-EU students at the highest level since 2011.