Mr Walesa told students and business leaders at Durham University that relations between the two countries were "strong" and said they would develop further because of membership of the EU.

"The relationship between Great Britain and Poland has been strong before. It was really strong before the Second World War," the co-founder of the Solidarity movement said.

"Now is really a reaction between the old relations and that we are building the European Union together."

The Nobel Peace Prize winner, who was elected the first democratic President of Poland in 1990, spoke out in favour of economic migration, saying the mass movement of Polish workers to the UK benefited both Britain and Poland.

"It was really a great help to our country that our skilled workers - instead of being unemployed - were able to travel somewhere to make some money, to make a living, for the benefit of all of Europe," he said.

"We are grateful for that and although it may have been to a certain loss to our economy, it was to the benefit of yours. You can pay tax to the European Union and we will get it returned in subsidy."

The former Gdansk shipyard electrician, who was president of Poland until 1995, was invited to Durham by the North East Chamber of Commerce

Kevin Rowan, regional secretary of Northern TUC, said: "The North East today has got stronger ties with Poland than it has ever had.

"The region has gained much from Polish workers coming here and giving a significant boost to our economy, providing a dynamism and energy that has contributed to recent economic growth and facilitating a more subtle cultural shift as the North East becomes more internationally diverse."



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