Malta has become a "particularly popular destination" for British people "since Labour came to power" in the UK, The Times of London reported on Sunday.

"I don't think we could have coped with being in the UK much longer," said Louise Burley, 46, was quoted as saying. "We were getting ... squeezed every day, taxed on everything. We have a couple of houses we rent out and there is hardly any point in keeping those."

That the Maltese traffic system is similar to that of the UK - driving on the left - has made it easier, the report says, adding that the presence of red letter-boxes and the strong cultural ties that exist between the two countries has made it all the more comfortable for British people to settle in Malta.

"A part of the Commonwealth, Malta's tax, legal and education systems are strongly influenced by the British. The country's two official languages are Maltese and English," the report says.

"Education is another selling point. Malta has many well-respected independent schools which charge much cheaper fees than their equivalents in the UK. The Maltese government offers tax breaks to parents who go private, for easing pressure on the state sector."

Read report in full here