EUROPEANS who live and work in Swindon have spoken of their confusion and concern as the clock ticks down to the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.

With the March 29 deadline looming, prime minister Theresa May headed to Strasbourg last night for 11th-hour talks with EU president Jean-Claude Juncker which she hoped might salvage her Brexit deal.

Nurse Louise O’Carroll, 27, from Ireland, said: “I’m not sure at the moment about the impact it is going to have, and I think that’s where the biggest issue with Brexit is occurring.

“It’s not knowing and not being able to make plans for the future as everything is still up in the air. Travelling back to the UK from holidays is going to be more stressful.”

Louise has been living in Swindon for about five years and is deeply attached to the town.

“I would like to go back to Ireland at some stage in the future because that will always be home, but I am very happy in the UK and have made it my second home,” she said. “I’ve made a life over here now and I would struggle to leave.”

Several businesses have already expressed their intention to leave the country if no deal is reached.

Martin McManamon, 25, from Ireland has been working in Swindon as a graphic designer for five months now.

He said: “There has been some talk of the company I work for losing contracts with big businesses which are moving their bases out of the UK to other countries.

“I have thought of going back to Ireland but right now the best opportunities for my line of work are in the UK, otherwise I would have moved elsewhere. The job makes me stay here.”

The future skills-based immigration system, also called the white paper, will favour skilled immigrants. This will also make things harder for low-skilled workers.

Sofiane Cherkaoui-Malki, 25, from France, said: “I have qualifications and I’m also working for the government, so I won’t be affected. I will be ready for the next skills-based immigration system. I don’t have to complain.

“I just hope people will stay as open as they already are, and that Brexit won’t affect the atmosphere.

“My job makes me stay in Swindon. The main issue is about job opportunities for foreigners. If it comes to change, I might leave, but it’s not the case at the moment.”

EU citizens living in the UK who want to remain in the country will have until June 2021 – or December 2020 if there’s no deal – to register for a new ‘settled status’.