A leading Hindu organisation rejected calls for legislation to tackle caste discrimination in the UK as it published a report claiming the problem is not widespread in British society.

The Hindu Forum of Britain (HFB) said responses from a survey of 245 Hindus in the UK showed the vast majority - 97% - said they had "never" or "very rarely" faced discrimination on grounds of caste.

The report found that caste discrimination could still be a "purely cultural" issue in the areas of marriage, social interaction in temples and community centres and verbal exchanges between a "few" pupils in some schools.

The complex caste system, which has it origins in the Hindu religion, was outlawed soon after Indian independence from Britain in 1947, but its influence remains.

The plight of the Dalits, formerly known as "untouchables" has received particular attention.

Ramesh Kallidai, secretary general of the Hindu Forum of Britain, said: "There has been some criticism against the Hindu caste system with regards to the treatment of Dalits.

"However, it is not right for Government to take a position on the rites, beliefs or practices of a particular religion.

"Social interactions and personal choices are an expression of people's freedom, and any barriers should be removed through education and awareness, not through legislation."

But Meena Varma, director of the Dalit Solidarity Network UK, rejected the HFB report and backed legislation to outlaw caste discrimination in the UK.

She said "conservative" estimates showed there were 50,000 Dalits living in the UK.

She also rejected claims from the HFB that the pressure on the Government to legislate on caste discrimination was inspired by Christian groups hoping to make conversions.

Her organisation is secular and opposed to all forms of discrimination, she said.

She said: "The whole point about caste, whether it is in the UK or in South Asia, is that it is now religion blind, so there are Dalit Christians, Dalit Muslims, Dalit Sikhs and Dalit Buddhists.

"Our report No Escape shows that there is discrimination in the UK - most of this is anecdotal evidence, because there is no way people can bring cases on basis of discrimination as there is no legislation."

By Martha Linden