UK population sees sharpest rise in nearly 70 years

The UK population has registered its sharpest annual rise in almost 70 years, new official figures have shown.

A total of 65.6 million were thought to be living in Britain at the end of June 2016, according to latest data released by the Office for National Statistics.

The number of inhabitants rose by 0.8%, equating to 538,000 people, the largest increase in population since the year to mid-1947.

Officials at the ONS said that net immigration into the UK remained the main driver of population growth.

There was also a rise in births and fewer deaths.