PURBECK is the only place in Britain where migration has fallen, according to Migration Observatory figures.

The percentage of migrants among the district's population has dropped by 0.9 per cent since 2001, statistics reveal.

While the Isle of Purbeck comes top of a list of 10 areas displaying the smallest migration increase, East Dorset - with a 10.4 per cent rise - is also seventh on that list.

In every district of the UK apart from Purbeck the percentage of migrants in local populations has risen in recent years.

Residents in Swanage & Wareham agree that high house prices and a large number of seasonal holiday jobs may be among the reasons for the decline in migrants.

Local Nick Smith said: “You don't exactly see a wide range of different nationalities in Purbeck, not compared to say Bournemouth where there are lots of language schools and more hotels employing all the year around.

“It's also pretty expensive to live in this area, which may put a lot of people off from settling here. There are lots of second holiday homes in the area.”

Responding to the latest migration figures, a Purbeck District Council spokesman said: “There could be a number of reasons for this decline but the council has not carried out an in-depth analysis as to why this might be.”

Meanwhile, at the other end of the scale statistics show migrants make up 15 per cent of the population in Boston, Lincolnshire, which represents a rise of 389 per cent since 2001.

The Migration Observatory, which provides impartial and independent analysis of migration data, is based at the University of Oxford.

The 10 smallest increases in the percentage of migrants

1. Purbeck -0.91%
2. Forest Heath 0.1%
3. Redcar and Cleveland 6.05%
4. Inverclyde 7%
5. Torridge 7.53%
6. E Dorset 10.37%
7. Hackney 13.4%
8. Rutland 13.6%
9. W Dorset 14.37%
10. Camden 15.3%