A ST HELENS councillor says he is being inundated with calls from worried EU nationals after plans for a 'hard' Brexit were unveiled.

Councillor Martin Bond, who represents Haydock, says the phone is "exploding" with enquiries from EU citizens living in the borough and across the North West who are worried about what the future holds.

On Tuesday (January 17), Theresa May pledged to control immigration and said she wanted to guarantee the rights of EU nationals already living in the UK, in return for a similar agreement for Brits living abroad.

Cllr Bond, who works as a principal immigration officer, said: "At the moment we are dealing with around 35 enquiries a day. After the prime minister's speech, we only expect that to rise. The EU nationals that call me have jobs and kids here in the UK and they are very apprehensive."

Cllr Bond said he wanted to call upon the government to bring clarity to the position of EU citizens and Britons in the EU as soon as possible.

He said: "The referendum result was clear and I believe firmly that politicians must carry out the will of the people. I couldn't see anything but a hard Brexit once the result was in. The single market comes with free movement.

"It's clear free movement will be dead once Brexit happens, but we don't know what will happen with those people who are currently lawfully living here. That worries me.

"We need to recognise how dependant our economy is on EU workers. For example in health, social care and construction."

The Labour councillor added that increasing uncertainty surrounding the process could drive out thousands of EU citizens - many of whom work in the NHS and social care sectors - potentially putting our most vulnerable at risk.

He said: "They are being used as pawns and it is not acceptable. The same applies to UK citizens living in the EU. They must be assured that their residential rights are secure as well.

"There is a clear link in the current difficulties the NHS is facing to increased demand for social care.

"Just under five per cent of all staff in the NHS and five per cent of staff working in social care sector are EU citizens. Overall this equates to more than 57,000 NHS staff and 77,500 working in social care.

"If they decide en masse to up and leave, we will be left with an even bigger crisis in the NHS and social care than at present.

"Many have been here for years, own property, have children and grandchildren here. They have contributed to the health and wealth of the country."

Cllr Bond added: "We don't know if they will be allowed to stay, what they will need to do to secure themselves in the UK, and their rights to return to the UK if they visit home."

The councillor helped to set up Zuvatu - which specialises in helping individuals and families with visa issues - soon after the UK voted to leave the EU last June.