THE Poles have arrived in Britain in such numbers that they now constitute the largest wave of immigration for at least 300 years, according to experts.

The influx, estimated at more than 350,000 in the past two years, follows the European Union’s decision to allow Poland and other former Soviet bloc countries to join in 2004.

Home Office figures show 204,895 Poles had signed up to work in Britain by the end of last year, but experts agree the true figure for those living here is likely to be far higher since many do not have to register.

While most large EU countries blocked citizens of the new member states from migrating in search of work until 2009, Britain opened its doors.

Other east European nationalities are also arriving in large numbers, such as Slovaks (36,355 in the official figures) and Lithuanians (44,715), but Poland, with 39m inhabitants and nearly 20% unemployment, is dominating the Slavic migration.

David Coleman, professor of demography at Oxford University, estimated the influx at “hundreds of thousands”. He said: “From one country in a very short space of time, it must be the largest influx we have ever seen.”

The scale has dwarfed pre- 2004 forecasts — the Home Office predicted a net influx of some 13,000 from the whole region.

The stereotype of Pawel the plumber is well established, but Poles are now filling vacancies in jobs from banker to doctor, driver and factory worker. An estimated 80% are under 34. They have a reputation for working hard at manual jobs for relatively low wages, despite good qualifications.

Coleman believes the only comparable migration was that of French Protestants, known as Huguenots, after the revocation of the edict of Nantes in 1685 ended their right to practise their faith at home.

An estimated 50,000 fled to Britain in the 17th century, adding about 1% to the country’s 5m population. The current Polish intake, although far greater in numbers, is a lower proportion.

Professor John Salt, of the migration research unit at University College London, agrees with Coleman’s view. “What we are seeing now . . . is something unprecedented,” he said.

The Poles’ reputation is such that when Antony Worrall Thompson, the celebrity chef, criticised them last week for not having a sufficient grasp of English or waiting skills, he faced an outcry, forcing him partially to recant. “Polish people work incredibly hard,” he said.

Even Roger Knapman, leader of the anti-EU UK Independence party, is using Poles to restore his country house.

Agnieszka Wajszczuk, 29, a waitress at Panteli’s restaurant in Canterbury, came to Britain because of the lack of jobs at home. “I hope to stay here for 10 years, maybe more, and perhaps even go to university here,” she said.

Wajszczuk, who grew up and went to university in eastern Poland, added: “My brother is 26 and works in the same factory as my father but he may come to England next week.”

Vasilakis Panteli, 61, her employer, is delighted with Polish workers. “I find them very reliable, very hard-working, very polite and respectful. They enjoy their work. They’re all working to assist their families, sending money back home,” he said.

The sentiment is shared by Fiona Lucas, 36, area director for Barclays Bank in Ealing, west London. The bank is recruiting Poles to serve the area’s burgeoning Polish business sector and expatriates.

“They are really ambitious and focused,” she said.

One recruit is Lucasz Skalecki, 27. “I think I’ll be here when I retire,” he said. “I don’t understand cricket or rugby — 20 people running around killing themselves — but I feel comfortable in England.”

Mike Edwards, owner of the Atlas Driving Agency in Cheshire, said he employed Poles because he could not find British people to do the jobs. “I get criticism because Poles are allegedly taking English jobs, but there would not be a market for them if we could find people to work in this country,” he said.

According to figures from the TUC, about half the registered east Europeans work in services, with another 28% in farming and the food industry and 10% in care homes and other services. Separate figures from the Home Office show significant numbers in business.

Others, however, do not have to register if they are self-employed in jobs such as decorating and plumbing. Nor are departures tracked, so accurate official figures for net immigration are unavailable.

The Poles have spread far beyond the biggest cities. There are concentrations in Luton, Southampton, Inverness and Northern Ireland, for example. Crewe in Cheshire, with a population of around 45,000, is now home to about 3,000 Poles, The number of Poles easily surpasses other post-war immigrant groups. “The Indians are getting on for a million, the Pakistanis several hundred thousand and the West Indians about 500,000. But that includes roughly half born in Britain and they arrived over much longer periods of time,” said Coleman.

The government is assessing the impact of the migrants on Britain before deciding whether to open the doors to Romania and Bulgaria when they join the EU, probably next year.

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