ONE of Britain's most successful orchestras based in Oxfordshire is moving to Belgium due to fears of a post-Brexit crackdown on immigration.

The European Union Baroque Orchestra has been based in the county since 1985 but will give its last UK concert in its current form at St John's Smith Square, London, on May 19 before moving to Antwerp by 2018.

Orchestral manager Emma Wilkinson, who works for the orchestra's administration team, in Wootton-by-Woodstock, said the move to Antwerp was a 'wise decision' as loss of free movement could make life difficult for the orchestra's 25 musicians.

Ms Wilkinson, 53, who has worked for the orchestra since 1989, said: "We're the EUBO and so when the Brexit referendum happened our move out of the UK to the European Union was inevitable."

The orchestra, co-founded by the EU, provides young musicians from across Europe the opportunity to get a year's experience of performing in a baroque orchestra.

For the first time this year there are no musicians from the UK in the cohort but British musicians have featured in the orchestra throughout its 30-year history.

Ms Wilkinson added: "I do believe Brexit is a real worry for general British musicians.

"If you have musicians who have to apply for visas, who have to apply for work permits, orchestras and organisations will have to go through that huge bureaucracy."

The administration of the orchestra, based at Hordley House in the village, will move to the Augustinus Muziekcentrum (AMUZ) in Antwerp.

Ms Wilkinson added: "We have been forced to the conclusion that carrying on as we were is no longer possible.

"A strategic transition out of the UK to a new future with AMUZ is the most viable way forward - my colleagues and I will oversee the transition.

"We have had a very happy 30 years but this decision gives the orchestra the best chance to survive."

The orchestra auditions about 100 students a year, including young British musicians, and chooses between 20 and 25 for intensive training and performances.

Former students have gone on to fill posts in major baroque orchestras based around the world.

Ms Wilkinson, from Bletchingdon, said: "Over the years the orchestra has performed at a number of well-known venues including the Sheldonian Theatre and St John the Evangelist in Oxford.

"We have also performed at Oxford University's Museum of Natural History.

"This is a great shame - we work in a beautiful environment on the banks of the River Glyme and we will really miss it."

It is understood that other major orchestras are also considering their options, including the European Union Youth Orchestra, which has been based in London since 1976.