A survey by the CRE (Commission for Racial Equality) showed integration between communities remains a long way off.

The findings of a YouGov survey showing that the UK's white majority population is integrating less with other communities than the non-white population.

Most white people (94%) have few or no ethnic minority friends, while nearly half (47%) of non-white people, say most or all of their close friends are white.

Commenting on the findings, Trevor Phillips CRE Chair said, "It surprised me the extent to which the majority community still does not really know minority communities. When it comes to race and religion this clearly shows that we are dealing with a difference of which most people in this country have no first-hand experience.

"Therefore it is not surprising that they can be misled about blacks, Gypsies and Muslims, and it's not surprising that for no apparent reason they can become hostile and racist."

The findings also show that older people from ethnic minorities are far more likely to integrate than younger people from ethnic minorities, with 58% of over 50s having mainly or entirely white friends, compared to only 36% among the under 30s.

The reverse is true of younger white people (43%) who mix more than the older population, that are more likely to have white-only friends (60%).

The pattern is repeated in terms of contact with those who practice major faiths. Most white people (83%) have no friends who are practicing Muslims, while nearly half (48%) of non-white people do.

The findings suggest that racial barriers have to some extent come down, but integration is far from complete. 70% of white people and almost as many non-white people (65%) agree that ethnic minority Britons too often live apart from the rest of society.