Bulgarian ambassador Konstantin Dimitrov on immigration

There will be no "floodgate opening" of Bulgarians heading to the UK when work restrictions are lifted on 1 January, said the country's ambassador.

But Konstantin Dimitrov said Bulgaria was "very worried" about the prospect of a "brain drain" if its best-qualified nurses, doctors, entrepreneurs and financiers were to leave for the UK.

And Mr Dimitrov reckoned some politicians and media organisations were guilty of a "nasty anti-Bulgarian" campaign, but he refused to name names saying he was a diplomat.

He spoke on Wednesday as the British government promised to push ahead with plans to restrict access to benefits for EU immigrants, despite a European commissioner warning the UK risked being seen as a "nasty country".

More from the Daily and Sunday Politics: Watch full programmes from the last seven days via BBC iPlayer; 'like' us on Facebook page or 'follow' us on Twitter