Some 1.3 million citizens from EU8 states such as Poland are living in the UK - nearly a hundred times the number of British expats in eastern Europe.

The figures underline the scale of migration since the countries joined the EU in 2004.

Poland accounts for the highest number of EU8 nationals in Britain, with an estimated 813,700. There are around 250,000 children of EU nationals in the UK, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

By contrast, there are just 14,100 British expats living in the eastern European states.

There are around 250,000 children of EU nationals in the UK, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS)

The study also suggest there has been a rise in the number of overseas nationals claiming the UK state pension from countries in the region.

The figures were disclosed in an ONS report on migration between the UK and the so-called 'EU8' countries - Poland, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia and Latvia.

It cited figures from the Department for Work and Pensions showing that there were around 6,000 people in EU8 countries receiving a pension at the end of last year.

The number of pension recipients in Poland has risen most sharply, with around 2,900 in November, which is twice the number recorded six years earlier.

'As there is not a corresponding rise in the number of British citizens aged over 65 years living in EU8 countries, it is likely that the increase is due to EU8 migrants returning home and claiming the state pension they are eligible for by working in the UK,' the paper said.

The ONS found that the overwhelming majority of EU8 nationals in the UK are of working age.

UK'S POPULATION IS CLOSING ON FRANCE The UK has moved closer to overtaking France as the second most populous country in the European Union, official figures show. As of January the two nations had an estimated 65.8 million and 67 million inhabitants respectively, according to data published by the EU's statistical agency Eurostat. The figure for the UK, which currently has the third highest population in the union, saw an annual rise of more than 400,000 - meaning it has narrowed the gap to France in second to just over 1.2 million. In 2016, the difference between the two countries was close to 1.4 million, while in 2010 it stood at more than two million. Last month separate figures revealed that the population of the UK had seen its sharpest annual increase in nearly 70 years, reaching 65.6 million in the middle of 2016. Advertisement

On average, 80 per cent of those aged 16 to 64 were employed at the point they were surveyed in 2013 to 2015. EU8 citizens made up 3 per cent of the overall national workforce.

Just under a third (32 per cent) of EU8 workers were in 'elementary' occupations, with distribution, hotels and restaurants, and manufacturing the most common industries.

Two in five EU8 nationals were overqualified for the job they were doing.

The paper said there are an estimated 14,100 UK citizens living in EU8 countries, with 42 per cent residing in the Czech Republic.

Discussions over the status of EU nationals in the UK, and British expats in Europe, have been at the centre of early Brexit negotiations.

Emma Rourke, ONS Director for Public Policy and Analysis, said: 'This report adds to the complex picture of migration across the EU.

'It shows how the population profile among migrant populations compares, and often differs markedly in age make-up, with the overall population of the host countries.

'This has clear implications for future policy-making across a range of areas.'