Airline passengers flying to the UK are to be screened for potential immigration and security risks before they reach British shores, the government has announced.

The Home Office revealed that it is to pilot new technology to "read" the passports and other documents of UK-bound passengers boarding at Madrid and Miami.

The data will then be checked against a variety of online law enforcement databases.

Ministers hope the new approach will limit the number of people travelling to the UK using false documents and stop repeat offenders getting to the UK.

They also hope that terror suspects attempting to reach the UK will be identified early.

The three month "pre-entry screening" trial will operate in partnership with Virgin Atlantic between Heathrow and Miami and easyJet between Stansted andMadrid."This trial is the first step in a long-term programme to harness the latest technology to modernise and strengthen our border controls, creating a border security system fit for the 21st century," said Home Office minister Beverley Hughes.

"Ninety million people passed through the UK last year - reflecting the UK's leading place in the global economy. Against this background, it is neither possible, nor desirable to set up a fortress Britain."

Despite the flexible approach the government warned that it will need to ensure that measures to protect and strengthen borders are effective.

"In the future we will increasingly look to develop the use of biometrics and obtain more passenger information before people travel to the UK," Hughes added.

"It builds on the success of the screening technology we are deploying along the north European coastline, which has effectively moved our immigration controls abroad and significantly reduced the numbers of illegal entrants reaching the UK by these routes."

Virgin chief Richard Branson also backed the move. "Virgin Atlantic is always keen to become involved with any innovative new products or technologies that may be able to enhance customer service and security," he said.

"The safety and security of our passengers and crew is of paramount importance."