A survey for a BBC programme has found that a growing number of Christians feel persecuted against because of their faith.

The poll for the Heaven and Earth show questioned 604 people describing themselves as Christian. Of those surveyed, 25 per cent , or one in four, said they felt discriminated against by colleagues and in their local communities.

One in three said they felt Christianity was misportrayed in the media, reflecting widespread dissatisfaction with what is widely perceived to be a culture of preferential treatment to Islam and Hinduism.

Christians in the UK have long been alarmed at the steady erosion of Christian values, particularly in the law-making bodies, as well as efforts to deny the UK's Christian heritage.

The Catholic Church recently went head to head with the Labour Government for an exemption in the gay rights laws for its adoption agencies, which regard a heterosexually headed family as the best environment for raising children.

Meanwhile, the local council in Haringey, London, threatened to cut the fundings of a Christian-run Polish family centre when it applied to change its name to include the word 'Christian' and Haringey Council discovered that it sings Christian songs with the children.

Rev Malcolm Duncan, of campaign group Faithworks, said: "The Christian church is suffering more than all other faiths in the UK.

"There is an aggressive secularist agenda that says it's OK to support any group ending in "ism" but not OK to support anything connected to Christianity."

Tory MP and committed Catholic Ann Widdecombe, said Christians must decide whether to "fight back or take it".

"My own belief is that we should stand together and fight this discrimination."