The number of eastern and central Europeans registering to work in the UK has fallen to the lowest level since their countries joined the European Union four years ago, according to Home Office figures published yesterday.

The fall in the value of the pound and improved job prospects in their home countries appears to be reducing the appeal of the UK to migrant workers from the so-called A8 accession countries - the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.