N Ireland 'is most pious region'

The survey found Northern Ireland was the most observant UK region

Northern Ireland is the most pious region of the UK, according to a new survey.

Christian charity Tearfund's survey found 45% of people in Northern Ireland attended church services every month.

It found 30% went weekly, while 54% went at least once a year. Of those surveyed, 41% said they never went.

Chief executive Matthew Frost said the UK-wide survey of 7,000 people made it clear "that the UK is holding firmly to the Christian faith".

In the report, Churchgoing in the UK, it says: "Northern Ireland is very different from the rest of the UK in that 81% are Christians and only 0.4% belong to other religions."

It says Northern Ireland has "only 44% either de-churched or non-churched".

Scotland has 18% regular attendance, which is slightly above average, followed by England at 14% and Wales at 12%.

The European Social Survey in 2002 found the Irish Republic had 67.2% attendance at religious services.

Poland had the highest attendance, with 75.5% worshipping regularly.