The number of UK residents leaving the country in search of a better life abroad has soared and migration experts said that this year's non-existent summer will only add to the exodus.

Figures released today by the Office of National Statistics showed that 385,000 people left Britain in 2005-2006, more than in any year since the current method of counting was introduced in 1991. Of those, around a quarter of a million were British, although there was a sharp increase in those of foreign origin leaving the country.

The flow of long-term migrants into the UK hit 574,000 - 25,000 lower than in the previous year - meaning that there was net immigration of around 190,000.

Richard Gregan, managing director of Emigration Overseas, a private company helping people move, said that the figures had not come as a surprise and next year's could show an even sharper increase in emigration.

“The weather is always among the top reasons for leaving and this summer we have had more calls than the previous five. It’s not the only reason, but it’s the straw that broke the camel’s back,” Mr Gregan said.

Australia and Spain remain the top destinations as Britons seek to replace the wettest summer on record with year round sunshine. The property markets in the two countries no longer allow migrants to buy bigger properties for a small proportion of the sale of their UK homes, but property prices are still a significant factor.

As well as the traditional reasons for emigrating from the UK, foreign governments have been more actively seeking to recruit skilled workers, particularly from the health service.

“The governments that want these people are being a lot more pro-active, coming over here and telling people that if they work 38 hours a week doing this your standard of life will improve,” said Mr Gregan.

“It is proving to be very successful, people are opting to go somewhere their skills are recognised.”

Last year, about 3,000 nurses and midwives left Britain to work in Australia - more than double the number making the same trip ten years ago. Around 8,000 nurses emigrated to work abroad last year.

The most highly sought-after professionals in Australia include quantity surveyors, teachers, IT consultants. This year auto-electricians are also in demand.

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