A majority of the British people is still against adopting the euro, according to the latest opinion poll published today.

The survey of 2,000 people shows 57 per cent against the UK joining the European single currency, with just 21 per cent in favour.

Another 14 per cent are undecided, according to the poll, while 8 per cent do not care either way.

The survey was conducted by FX Currency Services, a wholesale supplier of foreign exchange services.

It also shows that more women than men want to keep the pound - 59 per cent compared with 55 per cent - and that hostility to the euro seems most marked among the young and the old with 62 per cent of both the 16-24 age group and the over-55s rejecting the idea of the single currency.

Most support for the euro comes from men, with over 27 per cent wanting to join against 16 per cent of women.

Entry into the euro was also popular among people between the ages of 45 and 54.

There were also regional variations shown with Scotland and London the areas most in favour of adopting the euro.

In contrast, the Welsh and people in the East Midlands were most in favour of keeping the pound.

In the South East 25 per cent were for the euro, 56 per cent wanted to keep the pound, 13 per cent were undecided and six per cent said they didn't care.