London is capital of diverse cultures

Ethnic diversity is increasing across London, research has revealed.

In three boroughs - Newham, Brent and Tower Hamlets - white people are now in the minority.

Inner London has the highest non-white population in the country, with 37 per cent of residents from an ethnic minority. In outer London, the figure falls slightly to 27 per cent.

London is more diverse than any other part of the country, with the only other area to record a figure in excess of 20 per cent is the West Midlands. In the South-East outside London, it is only 4.6 per cent.

The fascinating insight into the rainbow make-up of the capital's 7.2 million residents emerges from research carried out by the Office for National Statistics.

Building on the 2001 Census, it reveals that Tower Hamlets has joined Brent and Newham as having an "ethnic majority". This is the result of an increase in the size of the Asian population, driven by a booming birthrate and a fall in the numbers of white people.

But despite the wealth of Canary Wharf it is the most deprived borough in the country - with one in three families l iving in ove r --crowded conditions and three in four children living in poverty.

Bangladeshis make up the borough's largest ethnic group, prompting the area around Brick Lane to adopt the name "Banglatown" to promote its numerous curry restaurants.

In total 42 per cent of residents classed themselves as "Pakistani or Bangladeshi", with 6.7 per cent black and 45 per cent white. The remainder classed themselves as Indian, of mixed race or "other".

The survey, based on an analysis of ethnicity in labour markets, found that the capital's non-white population rose by almost two per cent between the census in June 2001 and April last year.

But it unearthed a series of challenges for different groups. Non-whites are 14 per cent less likely to have a job in Southwark and Lambeth and this figure rises to 39 per cent in Tower Hamlets.

Here, about 90,000 of its 190,000 residents are on benefits. Life expectancy is shorter than the London average and 55 per cent of children receive free school meals.

Borough leaders say the challenge now is to ensure that the different communities are able to integrate as successfully as the Jews who came to the East End 100 years ago.

Labour councillor Kevin Morton said it was important to work together to counter the threat of Right-wing extremists.

He said: "My experience growing up in Tower Hamlets is that ethnic diversity is a potential strength. It is the religious and cultural issues that can be more difficult and divisive if extremists in different communities are allowed to make them so."

In response to growing diversity, Tower Hamlets council has developed a cultural strategy to address issues raised by what it terms a "melting pot" of different groups.

This summer, a borough by-election saw the anti-war Respect party win its first council seat in the country. The party is looking to target East End Labour MPs in the next general election.

Across London, diversity is lowest in Havering - which takes in Romford - at just over five per cent belonging to ethnic groups. Other boroughs with low ethnicity are Bexley, Bromley and Richmond - all with fewer than one in 10 non-whites.

But boroughs where diversity is now approaching 50 per cent include Ealing, Harrow, Redbridge, Hackney and Waltham Forest.

The findings come as the London Development Agency, the Mayor's jobsandregeneration body, launches a tourism drive for east London. It will ask visitors for their views of the area and identify ways it can benefit from a successful bid for the 2012 Olympics.

Anita Thornberry, head of tourism at the LDA, said: "East London is a ' hidden gem' that is fast becoming a dynamic business location and is poised to become a major tourist destination. Our plan aims to capitalise on the wide diversity of attractions and cultures in the area."