THREE of the five Gwent councils saw more people leaving than moving to the area, according to new figures.

In 2008/09, Blaenau Gwent and Newport councils saw 200 more people move to other parts of the UK than migrated in.

Blaenau Gwent had 1,600 people arrive and 1,800 move on. In Newport, these figures were 4,900 and 5,100.

The latest figures, published by the Local Government Data Unit Wales, based on figures from the Office of National Statistics, show 18,200 people moved to Gwent in 2008/09 and 18,500 moved out.

Caerphilly had a drop of 100, 4,100 in and 4,200 out, and Torfaen saw no change, with 4,500 people migrating in and out.

Monmouthshire saw 100 more people moving into the county than the 3,600 who left.

These figures do not cover people leaving Wales to move abroad or people coming here from outside the UK.

Figures for Gwent are in-keeping with the fairly stable migration patterns across Wales.

The biggest increase was Carmarthenshire with a net increase of 400 people. The biggest net drop, 600, was in Rhondda Cynon Taff.

Newport council leader Matthew Evans said: "The last Census in 2001 showed Newport to have a population of 137,000 people, so considering the population size a migration difference of 200 people in 08/09 is neither here nor there."

Blaenau Gwent council said it is aiming to attract more people with ongoing regeneration projects, adding: "This year we have already seen an increase in the number of new houses built here."