Oxford is among the local areas of England with the highest proportion of people of a Christian background who identify as gay or lesbian, bisexual or another sexual orientation (LGB+), new figures show.

Cambridge, Brighton and a number of London boroughs also appear at the top of the list, with the proportion in some areas as high as around one in 20.

The data has been published as part of the latest release of information from the census, which took place in England and Wales on March 21 2021.

For the first time the census included questions on sexual orientation and gender identity, which were voluntary for all people aged 16 and over.

Some 4 per cent of people in Oxford told the census they identified as Christian also said they identified as LGB+.

The highest proportion anywhere in England outside the City of London (8.2 per cent) was Birghton & Hove where the proportion reached 5.9 percent.

Other areas with high proportions include the London boroughs of Tower Hamlets (5.8 per cent), Camden (4.9 per cent) and Lambeth (4.8 per cent).

After Brighton & Hove, the next highest proportions outside London is Oxford and Cambridge (both 4.0 per cent), Manchester (3.5 per cent) and Blackpool (3.4 per cent).

The lowest proportions are all for local authorities in Essex: Castle Point (0.8 per cent), followed by Rochford, Maldon and Brentwood (all 0.9 per cent).

The figures have been published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Previous census data on the sexual orientation of the whole population showed a similar pattern, with people identifying as LGB+ concentrated in urban areas and university towns and cities.

The latest figures also include local data for sexual orientation among other religious groups, but most of the numbers are too small for meaningful comparison.