The number of east 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 released on Wednesday.

The fall in the value of the pound, a worsening UK employment outlook and improved job prospects in their home countries have reduced 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.