The Muslim population of Britain is growing faster than the overall population of the country and has nearly doubled to 2.7 million in the past decade, according to the most comprehensive report on the community in UK, released today.

The analysis of 2011 census figures indicate that 2.71 million Muslims lived in England and Wales compared with 1.55 million in 2001 and one in 12 schoolchildren are now officially classed as Muslim.

The report compiled by the Muslim Council of Britain and presented to Parliament concludes that in the coming general election Muslims could play a decisive role on at least 26 parliamentary constituencies, which have a Muslim population of 20 per cent or more.

"There has been a spreading-out effect and this has accelerated in the past 10 years," said Sundas Ali, Oxford University sociologist and the MCB report's analyst.