Net immigration to the UK rose to 237,000 in 2007, according to newly published figures.

The Office of National Statistics (ONS) said the number was an increase of 46,000 on 2006 as a result of a fall in the number of people moving out of the UK.

The estimated number of people arriving to live in the the country for 12 months or more was 577,000 in 2007, compared with 591,000 in 2006, while the number of people leaving the country fell from 400,000 to 340,000 over the same period.

Immigration Minister Phil Woolas has said the population should not exceed 70 million.

By last year the population was just under 61 million.

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