THERE are 18 times more Eastern Europeans coming to Britain than the Government's original estimates, says the UK Independence Party.

Home Office figures show that, due to EU enlargement, nearly a quarter of a million people from these new entrants have applied to work here in the last year. And, says UKIP, the figure is bound to increase, especially if Turkey is allowed to join.

John Whittaker, UKIP North West MEP, said: "Many of these newcomers are young people who want to work. But the problem, as we have often stated, is that our Government has given away control to the EU.

"We have no means of limiting legal immigration from Eastern Europe and our treatment and assessment of asylum seekers is now subject to EU directives. Pulling out of the EU is the only way we are going to be able to take back control of our borders."