The number of people from Eastern Europe applying to work in the UK following EU expansion last year has exceeded government expectations, according to the latest Home Office figures.

Ministers had forecast immigration of up to 13,000 per year, but the actual number applying between May and December 2004 was 133,000.

However, the number of asylum seekers and their families coming to Britain fell by more than 65 per cent in the past two years - from 110,000 to 40,200.