Religious faiths have a vital role to play in promoting citizenship, the home secretary has said.

David Blunkett used a speech to praise the work of different faiths in community projects and opening their facilities to local people.

He claimed religious groups could play a vital role in boosting community cohesion and good race relations.

But he also issued a warning that areas where faiths had become insular had to speak for their whole community.

Blunkett warned of the dangers posed by fundamentalism, particularly in the current climate.

"There is a real risk that instead of religion helping to build civic society and a sense of belonging among those who might otherwise become alienated, religion could actually increase that alienation," he said.

"It is a worrying trend that young, second-generation British Muslims are more likely than their parents to feel they have to choose between feeling part of the UK and feeling part of their faith.

"Faith can be the building blocks and the glue of community.

"We have to recognise that there are risks in channelling this through faith.

"When we want people both to participate in the political process through their faith community, but to be part of and active beyond it - and sometimes despite it - this is the real challenge."