More than half of all Polish immigrants plan to stay and settle permanently in Britain, according to research.

More than half of all Polish immigrants plan to stay and settle permanently in Britain, according to research.

Many of those who moved after Poland joined the EU seeking better employment opportunities are preparing to bring their families to join them.

Of the almost two million emigrants from Poland to other EU countries since 2004, most have come to Britain or Ireland.

In Scotland the official estimate of Polish immigrants is 31,000, but the actual number is believed to be around 86,000, according to unofficial statistics revealed by the Polish community to senior police officers earlier this year. The official figures do not include dependents, only those registered for work, excluding many younger or elderly family members.

The employment statistics also do not include self-employed people or women who have travelled with their husbands but not to look for work. The majority have settled in the big cities where jobs are more readily available.

Most - around 35,000 - are thought to have settled in Edinburgh and Lothian, with 20,000 in Glasgow. Another 10,000 are thought to be in Aberdeen and Inverness.

Matthew Owczarek moved from the Polish capital, Warsaw, to Glasgow and set up a Polish delicatessen, The White Eagle, on the Saltmarket.

He sells Polish fare including dumplings and Polish bread to a sizeable Polish and eastern European community in the east of the city, in areas such as Gorbals and Parkhead, and to Polish labourers working in the city centre.

He opened his shop at the end of last year, helped by his mother Lidia, and said it was now becoming popular with many Glaswegian customers as well. He said that from speaking to other Polish immigrants he agreed with the survey's findings.

He said: "I have no plans to go back at all, I will stay here.

"I think around half of those who came will maybe stay for around 10 years at least."

The White Eagle is one of many Polish shops that have opened to take advantage of a new market with the influx of Polish workers to Scotland.

The poll, published in Poland by the Gazeta Wyborcza, said 55% of Poles who work in Britain and 49% of those in Ireland definitely plan to stay. Of the remainder, many have yet to make up their minds. Poland estimates up to 1.5 million Poles have found work in western Europe since it joined the European Union in 2004 and gained entry to new labour markets.

Adam Czarnecki, from research company ARC Market and Opinion, said: "Polish workers are establishing lives in the British isles, having families and getting promoted. They will grow roots there."

Polish officials have said they expect most immigrants to return with their money after a couple of years abroad, especially given Poland's own booming economy.