London, Jan 1 (IANS) Migration to Britain will fall in 2012 by almost a third from its record high figures, a think-tank has said.

The Institute for Public Policy Research said tougher immigration curbs unveiled by the government were starting to achieve ‘significant reductions’ but far more were needed.

The net migration — the difference between the number of people entering Britain and those leaving — would fall from a record 252,000 in 2010 to 180,000 this year, the Daily Express reported.

The institute said the best chance of not attracting people to the country was if an economic downturn made Britain less attractive and drove away European migrants.

The daily, however, said fewer migrant workers could prevent an economic recovery.