New British citizens will have to pledge to uphold the UK's rights, freedoms and democratic values, the government has announced.

Immigrants seeking to become fully-fledged Britons will have to learn English, under plans ministers unveiled on Friday.

They must also "have sufficient knowledge" of life in the UK to enable them to "fully participate in our society".

Ministers are to pilot a new system of "citizenship ceremonies" where new citizens will swear an oath of allegiance to the Queen and vow to stand up for British values.

Publishing a consultation paper, the Home Office is examining ways to incorporate a local flavour into the ceremonies.

"Becoming a British citizen should not be about obtaining a bit of paper and a passport. It is something to be celebrated - both by those who qualify and by the wider communities of which they are a part," said Home Office minister Beverley Hughes.

"Citizenship ceremonies will enable more focus to be placed on the fact that citizenship carries with it both rights and responsibilities."

The proposals, which will spark controversy amongst minority groups, are being drawn up by a committee chaired by Professor Sir Bernard Crick.

They will be piloted in Brent, Liverpool, Wandsworth, Oldham, Kent, Cardiff, Telford and Glasgow.