The poll, one of the biggest of its kind, reportedly says 55% of people surveyed support membership of the EU - down from 77% in 1991.

The study, called British and Social European Attitudes, also found that 28% of people favoured complete withdrawal from Europe.

The survey says that only 17% of the British public supports changing to the euro, while 61% of the electorate is in favour of keeping the pound.

Ministers have insisted that the UK will not join the single currency unless it is in the interests of the country to do so.

It also found there was not a single policy area where a majority of the British public backs handing Britain's national decision-making to the EU.

Tories hail 'vindication'

The poll follows a newspaper survey earlier this month that showed increased support for a single European currency.

The Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, Francis Maude, told The Sunday Telegraph newspaper that it vindicated the Conservatives' position of waiting before making the decision whether to join the single currency.

He said: "The attempt by the government to force-march Britain into a single currency is backfiring and creating anti-European sentiment."

The newspaper said 1,355 people were asked about their attitudes to Europe between May and September this year. The poll was conducted by the Social and Community Planning Research Organisation.