EUROPEAN citizens living in Worcestershire have expressed their dismay at a leaked Government document, which outlines proposals to restrict EU immigration.

A Home Office document leaked to The Guardian sets out plans to prioritise British employees and introduce work permits for EU immigrants.

But one county woman said the document was saying: "We don't want you and we don't need you."

Robin Walker, the MP for Worcester, offered reassurance to EU residents and said negotiations are ongoing to ensure that they can stay in the UK.

Business director Stefania Barutta said she would not have been able to settle in the UK under the restrictions in the leaked document.

Mrs Barutta, of Warndon Villages, Worcester, said: "I'm an EU citizen who came here 28 years ago and has made a life here.

"I have a [British] husband and two kids. I've always considered the UK my home, I've been here longer than in Italy. People say you can go home but I thought this was my home."

Mrs Barutta, aged 48, is now considering leaving the country and moving her import business, Coremo Automation, out of the UK.

"I've paid corporation tax, I rent a premises, I spend money, I think I've contributed to the economy," she added.

"I feel like I've been hit on both sides - business and home.

"I would like to stop Brexit - that would be my ultimate goal. If that can't be achieved I think the minimum is we should remain in the single market and customs union."

Mrs Barutta said immigration has had a positive effect on the British economy, adding that she has seen employers who struggle to recruit local people.

She also rejected the idea that EU workers are responsible for the pressures facing public services such as the NHS.

Suzanne Savage, a Dutch citizen living in Malvern, was also unhappy with the leaked document, which she described as 'very worrying'.

She moved to the UK in 1998 and works as an education lecturer at Birmingham City University.

She said: "This document is clearly saying we don't want you and we don't need you.

"One of the biggest problems as EU citizens is we have no idea what's going to happen.

"EU citizens contribute more in taxes than we take away in services.

"For a lot of EU workers here there are no British people for those jobs. Doctors, nurses, teachers. We are having a recruiting crisis."

The 50-year-old is now calling on Mr Walker to vote with his conscience, after he reversed his position on Brexit.

"I think he and other like-minded Tory party members who were openly Remain before [the referendum] need to get together and come up with a plan," she said.

"At the bare minimum they should say 'we should have a second referendum'."

But Mr Walker rejected the prospect of another EU referendum.

He said: "I was always very clear. I would respect the outcome of the referendum.

"People have had that final say and we need to make it work in a way that brings people together."

He added that the Government is negotiating to ensure that EU citizens living in the UK have the right to stay.

Mr Walker declined to comment on the leaked document.