Bulgarians gather at Sofia station for three-day journey to London Bus left Sofia for journey through Western Europe towards London Dozens of Bulgarians queued up to begin their new life abroad Restrictions on Romanians and Bulgarians working in EU have been lifted Dozens of Bulgarians were pictured boarding a bus to Britain today as restrictions on Eastern European immigrants working in the UK were lifted. Many of the migrants departing from the capital Sofia were carrying all the luggage they will need for a new life in Britain. Tens of thousands of people from Romania and Bulgaria are forecast to come to Britain following the introduction of new rules allowing them to work and study anywhere in the EU. Packed: Passengers at Sofia's central bus station queuing for a bus to Western Europe and the UK Luggage: Potential migrants pile their bags onto the bus for the 48-hour journey to Britain Excitement: A Bulgarian man on his way to Britain carries a Union Jack bag in honour of his new home At the central bus station in Sofia, Bulgarian citizens queued up for vehicles embarking on a 48-hour journey through Western Europe. The buses were set to pass through Austria, Germany and France before crossing the English Channel and arriving at London's Victoria coach station this weekend. Yesterday was the first day that Romanians and Bulgarians were allowed to settle in Britain without having previously obtained a specialist job. At Luton airport, Labour MP Keith Vaz personally welcomed immigrants arriving off a flight from Bucharest. Opportunity: Britain is forecast to receive a new influx of Bulgarians and Romanians after immigration rules changed Parting: A couple say goodbye as one of them prepares to catch a bus to a new life in the West Hug: The pair embrace as they prepare to part ways at the bus station in Sofia's capital Victor Spirescu, the first Romanian to pass through immigration, said he was planning to make some money working in Britain before returning to Romania. On the Seven Sisters Road in North London this morning, a number of young men from Romania and Bulgaria were pictured outside a hardware store looking for odd jobs. 'They said they'd do any type of work for £50 a day,' one onlooker said. David Cameron faced a backlash from Conservative supporters and backbenchers in the run-up to the immigration controls being lifted. Boarding: A man gets ready to board the bus for his journey to Britain to seek work Emotion: A final hug before the man boards the bus passing through Austria, Germany and France A poll found that more than 80 per cent of the public favoured keeping the restrictions in place for three more years. In response, the Prime Minister introduced a rule dictating that new migrants would be unable to claim unemployment benefits for their first three months in the country. Additionally, migrants from the EU who are not in work or education and are unable to support themselves face being deported and banned from returning to the UK for a year. Looking for work: A group of young Bulgarian men in North London offering to do odd jobs for £50 a day Willing: Another group of Bulgarian men hoping to find work on the Seven Sisters Road