The regional health authority estimates that around 1,600 British expats living in the Valencian Community will be affected by a plan to close a loophole enabling them to receive free public healthcare.

It will affect around 3,000 pre-retired foreign residents who do not pay social security contributions either in their home countries or in Spain.

British pensioners will continue to be covered by an exchange scheme with the British government, which picks up the cost.

Neither will it affect tourists, who will continue to be covered by the E-111 card scheme.

The closing of the loophole, which previously enabled EU residents without public or private health insurance cover to claim free healthcare on the grounds that they could not afford to pay for it, will bring Valencia into line with the rest of Spain's regions.