Dartford’s foreign-born population has more than doubled over 10 years.

The town also had the second highest percentage increase of non-UK residents across the whole of the south east over the same period.

Figures from the latest Census have revealed that in 2001 the number of foreign-born residents was just under 5,000 but in 2011 this had risen to almost 11,000, an increase of more than 120%.

The numbers of foreign-born Dartford residents now accounts for 11% of the town’s overall population of more than 97,000.

Across the south east – which the Office for National Statistics measures as being from the east coast of Kent, stretching as far west as Salisbury and north to Milton Keynes, excluding London and Essex – Dartford had the second highest increase of non-UK residents.

The figures are based on the percentage increase of non-UK born residents for each district over the 10-year period rather than the numbers of people.

In Medway there are more than 27,000 non-UK born residents – more than Gravesham and Dartford combined – but this is only a 76% increase on the 15,000 people in the area in 2001.

This puts them 15th in the league table, behind both North West Kent towns.

Milton Keynes came out highest because their foreign-born population increased from 20,000 to 45,000 during the 10 years, a 125% rise.

In comparison to the national figures, which include 391 districts and unitary authorities across England and Wales, Dartford came in as having the 20th highest increase in foreign-born residents.

Dartford has a high percentage of German migrants and is twinned with Hanau, a town in the Main-Kinzig-Kreis in Hesse, Germany.

The town is also twinned with Gravelines in Northern France and as part of the twinning, schools arrange annual exchanges and sports clubs take part in each others’ competitions.

Dartford’s MP Gareth Johnson (Con) said: “Despite the large percentage increase, the numbers are still relatively small and we are proud of the good race relations we have in Dartford.

“It is important not to forget that skilled immigrants are helpful to our society and we will continue to welcome the brightest and best immigrants who want to contribute to our economy and play by our rules.

“However the uncontrolled immigration that we have seen in the past Labour government places a strain on local resources, schools and medical provision.”

A report out this week by University College London indicates that immigrants to the UK since 2000 have made a “substantial” contribution to public finances.

The authors of the report, Christian Dustmann and Tommaso Frattini from UCL’s Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration, wrote: “Rather than being a drain on the UK’s fiscal system – immigrants arriving since the early 2000s have made substantial net contributions to its public finances, a reality that contrasts starkly with the view often maintained in public debate.”

According to the report, immigrants to the UK since 2000 are 45% less likely to receive state benefits or tax credits than the native population.

The report adds: “These differences are partly explainable by immigrants’ more favourable age-gender composition. However, even when compared to natives with the same age, gender composition, and education, recent immigrants are still 21% less likely than natives to receive benefits.

“Those who arrived to the UK since 2000, and who have driven the stark increase in the UK’s foreign born population, contributed far more in taxes than they received in benefits.”