article_snippet: The figure was four times higher than the previous 13 years and equivalent to the population of Britain five largest cities outside London – Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow, Sheffield and Bradford.
article_snippet: ‘tens of thousands pledge’
article_snippet: Within two years the number had increased by 250,000.
article_snippet: The total now stands at 1.077 million.
article_snippet: By 2005 that figure had more than doubled to at least 137,035 a year.
article_snippet: In 2002 almost 85,000 applications were received – up from 32,500 in 1997.
highlights_snippet: Population was equivalent to the population of Britain's five largest cities .
  