The next few years will bring "unprecedented challenges" to the construction sector, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

In the wake of the Brexit result, the FMB stated the industry skills crisis could worsen unless a new system of immigration is set up allowing migrant workers to build UK homes and infrastructure.

Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the organisation, said: "The UK construction industry has been heavily reliant on migrant workers from Europe for decades now – at present, 12% of the British construction workers are of non-UK origin.

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"The majority of these workers are from EU countries such as Poland, Romania and Lithuania and they have helped the construction industry bounce back from the economic downturn when 400,000 skilled workers left our industry, most of which did not return.

"It is now the Government's responsibility to ensure that the free-flowing tap of migrant workers from Europe is not turned off. If Ministers want to meet their house building and infrastructure objectives, they have to ensure that the new system of immigration is responsive to the needs of industry."

(LM/JP)