Packing up for home: Poles hit by UK's economic downturn

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The number registered to work in Britain has fallen by 50,000 in three months, according to official figures.

Immigration minister Phil Woolas suggested double that figure had gone home disillusioned in recent months.

The financial meltdown in Britain has wiped out many of the well-paid jobs that Poles came here to find. Meanwhile, the Polish economy is growing and its banks are in good shape due to the country's stricter investment rules.

More than 550,000 Poles have come to Britain since their country joined the EU in 2004 but Mr Woolas said about 100,000 went home this year. The UK Border Agency later said this was an "off-the-cuff comment".

A spokesman added: "Our figures show that fewer Polish workers are coming here, and research suggests that half of those that came to the UK to work have now gone home."

Official figures show that in the three months to the start of autumn, the number of Poles registered to work here fell from 150,000 to 100,000. The number applying to work in Britain has also fallen. Robert Szaniawski, press attaché at the Polish Embassy in London, said that young people wanting to learn the language would still come here for a year or less, but economic migrants were dwindling.

He said: "The Polish economy is growing because the credit crunch didn't ravage the Polish banking system. Our regulations don't allow banks to involve people's money in such risky operations as banks in western Europe. There is a shortage of jobs in Britain but in Poland job prospects are better than two or three years ago."

However, he said Poland would eventually suffer knock-on effects of the credit crunch that could lead to a rise in migration again, though not at the same level as after 2004.

There are believed to be about 150,000 Poles in London. Many arrived after EU expansion but some families have been in the capital since the First and Second World Wars. Polish airmen joined the RAF and fought in the Battle of Britain. West London, especially Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, have large populations.