MORE than one in three Britons think that anti-Semitism is worse now than it was ten years ago, a poll suggests.

A total of 37 per cent of those polled believe the problem is increasing. The survey found that by contrast 16 per cent of respondents think that the issue has improved compared to a decade ago.

Women were more likely to consider anti-Semitism a worsening issue, according to the Populus poll, with 43 per cent saying so compared to 32 per cent of men.

On a scale of one to 10, where one one means anti-Semitism is not a problem at all and 10 means it is a serious issue, participants rated it at 4.66.

The figure was largely unchanged from when a similar survey was carried out in 2005.

The findings - published alongside a report from the All Party Parliamentary Inquiry into Anti-Semitism - found that 55 per cent of people say they would be able to explain what anti-Semitism means to another person.

It comes after research showed the number of anti-Semitic incidents in the UK doubled last year to reach a record high, with the conflict in Israel and Gaza in July and August the single biggest factor in the rise.

The Community Security Trust (CST), which monitors anti-Semitism, recorded 1,168 incidents across the UK in 2014, up from 535 the previous year.

Just 31 of those incidents took place in Scotland, however this was also more than double the 14 reported in 2013.

Glasgow recorded more incidents than any other part of the country with 21 anti-Semitic instances - a ten-fold increase on the previous year which saw just two.

CST chief executive David Delew said: "The Jewish community should not be defined by anti-Semitism but last year's large increase in recorded incidents shows just how easily anti-Semitic attitudes can erupt into race hate abuse, threats and attacks.

"Thankfully most of the incidents were not violent but they were still shocking and upsetting for those who suffered them, and for the wider Jewish community."