THE migrant population of the North-East increased by an estimated 26,000 in three years, according to research by the University of Oxford.

At 20 per cent, the region saw the highest percentage increase in migration in the country between 2011 and 2014, the study by the university's Migration Observatory said.

However, the increase in the estimated number of migrants - from 129,000 to 155,000 - was the lowest in the country.

The majority of migrants - 16,000 - who came to the region over the three years arrived from within the EU, with the remainder coming from non-EU countries.

According to the figures, County Durham had among the highest number of foreign-born residents with 20,700 in 2014 - up 4,000 on 2011.

Darlington had 7,000 - an increase of 1,400.

Nationally, the migrant population in England is estimated to have increased by more than half a million over the three years.

Around two thirds of the 565,000 migrants thought to have come to the country between 2011 and 2014 were born in other EU countries.

Researchers, who stressed that the numbers were estimates, said the projections give a more up-to-date picture of the migrant populations across England than the 2011 census, and ahead of official estimates from the Office for National Statistics expected in June.

The greatest increase in the number of foreign-born residents has been in London.

Almost 200,000 more migrants were estimated to live in London last year, compared to 2011.

The South East saw the second-highest rise of 79,000.

Madeleine Sumption, director of the Migration Observatory, said the study was done to provide more insight ahead of the general election.

"These data show how different local experiences of migration have been across the UK," she said.

"There are large variations in the size of migrant populations, as well as the share that come from EU countries.

"We have undertaken this analysis to provide a resource for anyone looking to understand local demographics of migration in the run-up to the general election."

Commenting on the figures, Ukip leader Nigel Farage said: "Once again, Ukip has been proved right.

"In 2010, people said this wasn't an issue. In 2014, I was told I was all wrong on the increase in the migrant population, and the Deputy Prime Minister even thought he'd beat me in debate over it.

"But migration to this country has been shown to be unsustainable, and councils are even seeing cuts in areas with booming populations. So let's be honest, the only way forward is Ukip's Australian-style points system proposal, and the only way to ensure this is by voting Ukip in May."