FEWER than 10 per cent of babies born last year in Powys have mothers born outside the UK, according to the Office of National Statistics (ONS).

Figures show that last year, 77 of the 1,133 births in the area were born to non-UK-born mothers, a rate of 6.8%.

This is considerably lower than the England and Wales average of 28.4%.

Of the estimated 77 mothers born outside the UK who gave birth last year in Powys, the most common place of origin was the EU – making up 61% of the group.

Just 17 of the non-UK born mothers were originally born in the Middle East and Asia, none in European countries outside the EU, and four in Africa.

The ONS report said that the figures for non-UK born mothers includes those who moved to the UK as children and have lived there most of their lives, as well as those who have recently migrated.

It also said that the figures for UK-born mothers include the children of second or third generation immigrants.

The highest percentage of births to non-UK born mothers in England and Wales was in Brent, where 75.7% of mothers were born outside the UK.

The lowest percentage was in Redcar and Cleveland and South Staffordshire, where 3.7% of mothers were born outside the UK.

ONS senior statistician Liz McLaren said: "There are large variations in the percentage of births to women born outside the UK across England and Wales.

"This is due to local area differences in the percentage of women born outside the UK, and due to differences in fertility levels of migrants born in different countries."

In the five years from 2012 to 2017, the total number of births in Powys fell slightly - from 1,190 births in 2012 to 1,133 last year.

During the same period, the number of births born to non-UK-born mothers also dropped significantly - from 100 in 2012 to 77 births last year.