AN Oxford Academic has said EU citizens have responded in different ways to the Brexit vote.

It comes as official statistics revealed the number of European nationals applying for British citizenship nearly doubled since the poll in June 2016.

There were 28,502 applications for citizenship from EU nationals in the year ending in June 2017 - up from 15,871 in the previous 12 months.

The rise is in contrast to a general downward trend in the overall numbers seeking citizenship, with total applications falling by eight per cent to 135,912.

The Home Office report said increases in applications from EU nationals in recent years are ‘likely to reflect immigration in earlier years while the most recent rise may be partly due to the impact of rule changes and recent events’.

Madeleine Sumption, director of the Migration Observatory at Oxford University, said: “Faced with the uncertainty of Brexit, it appears that EU citizens have responded in different ways - some have been trying to solidify their rights to remain in the UK, while others have been voting with their feet and leaving.”

Those seeking British citizenship by naturalisation are generally required to have lived in the UK for at least five years.

An application costs £1,282 and successful applicants are invited to a citizenship ceremony where they make an oath of allegiance and a pledge to respect the rights, freedoms and laws of the UK.

At the ceremony they are are presented with a certificate of British citizenship and a welcome pack.