Islamic extremists in Britain are openly trying to recruit children via the internet, a report warns.

They are using websites which carry messages of hate from terror suspects, according to the respected Civitas think-tank.

The study, by its Centre for Social Cohesion, reveals how fanatics are using the Web to bypass the anti-terror laws passed in the wake of the 2005 London bombings.

Preacher of hate: Websites routinely carry rants by fanatics such as Abu Qatada

Extremists are no longer delivering hate-filled sermons and distributing propaganda on street corners, but instead use pro-jihadist websites.

Some of these carry calls for the flag of Islam to 'fly over Downing Street', and urge militants to attack Jews and Christians.

Most worrying are sections of the sites dedicated to the radicalisation of children.

One message from controversial preacher Omar Bakri  -  now exiled to Lebanon  -  says children should be brought up to spread Islam through jihad.

Mothers are also using the websites to rail against British education. One writes: 'As part of GCSE, they must study Shakespeare, whose books are full of homosexuality, fornication and adultery, each of which are great sins in Islam.'

The websites also routinely carry rants by fanatics such as Abu Hamza, Abdullah el-Faisal, Abu Izzadeen and Abu Qatada.

All have been either imprisoned or deported to stop them enciting terrorist violence in Britain.

James Brandon, the report's author, said: 'Recent arrests, trials and convictions have undeniably damaged the ability of UK-based jihadists to recruit, raise funds or openly spread their ideology.

'However, these extremists have now re-grouped on the internet ... where they can operate with impunity.'

The websites also distribute material written or produced by international terrorist organisations such as Al Qaeda.

Mr Brandon said the existence of such websites run by UK-based individuals demonstrates 'that the Government's current approach to tackling online extremism is failing'.

In the most inflammatory recordings, speakers tell their Muslim listeners that they are obliged to fight non-Muslims.

In one recorded talk on www.islambase.co.uk, Abu Hamza tells listeners that the Jews and Christians should be fought until they accept living under Muslim rule

He says: 'You should take the means to do it. If you cannot do it, our children (can).'

Izzadeen, jailed for four-and-a-half years in April for terrorism offences, says: 'What is my identity? Am I a British Muslim?

'No, brothers ... his allegiance is to the Queen; his allegiance is to a red book  -  the passport; his allegiance is to the Job Seeker's Allowance and the income support.

'No, brothers  -  that's not the Muslim. The Muslim  -  his allegiance is to Allah and the nebi (prophet) and to the Muslims.'

Users of the websites adopt pseudonyms to show their reverence for preachers of hate. These include 'Hamza' and 'Abu Hamza al-Britani'.

The Civitas report concludes: 'The websites examined in this report pose a considerable threat to public safety.'

Currently, those responsible for extremist websites can be prosecuted for glorifying terrorism, but prosecutions have tended to focus on speeches made in public  -  not distributed via the Web.

Civitas's report calls for this law to be enforced and for legislation introduced to tackle internet paedophiles to be turned against suspected terrorists.