'Only 8 per cent of imams preaching in British mosques were born in UK'

The research, commissioned by the BBC, also suggests that only 6 per cent of imams in Britain speak English as a first language.

The Chester University survey for BBC News and the BBC Asian Network revealed that almost 45 per cent of imams have been in the UK for less than five years.

Report author Professor Ron Geaves said the aim of the survey had been to examine the ability of imams to adapt to modern Britain.

BBC religious affairs correspondent Robert Pigott said there was no evidence that imams are doing anything to radicalise young British Muslims.

But he said the results indicated that some imams lack the language and skills to help tackle the threat from extremism.

And they are up against groups who wait outside mosques with leaflets and can talk to young people in English about issues such as discrimination and UK foreign policy.

Muslim leaders are meeting this weekend to discuss ways of tackling radicalism in their community.

The general secretary of the Muslim Council of Britain, Muhammad Abdul Bari, told the BBC imams are essential to an effective strategy.

"Imans are those who can talk and engage the young people and old people so if they can play their role properly and communicate with young people they can get the message across to wider society in a very good way," he said.

The university interviewed staff at 300 mosques between February and March 2007.

The results showed that 24 imams were born and educated in the UK but this does not reflect the percentage of British-born South Asian Muslims who represent more than half of the Muslim population

Each mosque was asked a set of questions about imams including their place of birth, first language, qualifications and language of the Friday sermon.

The results showed that half of imams are from Pakistan, 20 per cent from Bangladesh and 15 per cent from India. Two-thirds speak Urdu as a first language and 52 per cent give sermons in the language.

Professor Geaves said: "The study reveals a deeply conservative body of individuals maintaining traditional languages, types of qualification and still largely recruited from the place of origin."