Glyn's comments sparked a long-simmering debate

The survey showed that the controversial comments of Gwynedd County Councillor Seimon Glyn had been a major factor in persuading the non-Welsh speakers to look elsewhere.

But the survey as North Wales Police announced they would not be taking legal action against Mr Glyn after he was reported for his comments. He said he was "mildly relieved."

He said: "I was never unduly concerned. I knew right from the start that what I said was not inciting racial hatred. I was only the messenger."

But Mr Glyn could not have had any idea of the controversy he was igniting when he made those now-infamous comments about English people moving into Wales.

Back in January, the chairman of Gwynedd County Council's housing committee was taking part in a radio phone-in hosted by BBC Wales's Sarah Dickens.

Mr Glyn prompted a flood of calls when he told the programme that the number of English people moving to Wales should be strictly monitored. Not only that, he said, they should be made to learn Welsh.

His comments followed a report warning that traditional rural Welsh communities could die out because of rocketing house sales.

Fears were said to be growing that local people simply could not afford the asking prices in places like Gwynedd.

Nearly a third of all properties bought in the area during a 12-month period were sold to people moving into the county and some councillors called on the Welsh Assembly to back a scheme to give assistance to locals looking to buy homes.

Mr Glyn's comments: