The government has pledged to clamp down on discrimination based on race, gender, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation and age.

Announcing plans for a new equality and human rights body, ministers pledged a "step change" in the fight against prejudice and discrimination.

Trade and industry secretary Patricia Hewitt said the proposed Commission for Equality and Human Rights would build on the work done by existing bodies.

The CEHR will be formed from a merger of the Equal Opportunities Commission, the Commission for Racial Equality and the Disability Rights Commission.

It will oversee new laws outlawing workplace discrimination on religion or belief, sexual orientation or age. And the CEHR will also be given a general duty to promote human rights.

"Everyone of us should have the chance to fulfil our potential, live with respect and dignity and not face the fear of prejudice, discrimination and hate," said Hewitt.

"Everyone of us should have the chance to fulfil our potential, live with respect and dignity and not face the fear of prejudice, discrimination and hate.

"This is why we must build on and strengthen work to overcome discrimination based on race, gender and disability, as well as the new strands of religious belief, sexual orientation and age.

"As individuals, our identities are diverse and complex. People don't define themselves as just a woman, or black or gay and neither should our equality organisations.

"People and their problems should not be put in boxes."

She added that the CEHR will have a broader range of tools to tackle the complexities of our diverse society.

The move was also backed by constitutional affairs secretary Lord Falconer, who said the body would "uphold and enhance the rights of all members of our community".

There move received a mixed reaction from campaign groups.

Gordon Lishman, director general of Age Concern England, welcomed the move.

"It's vital that services we all rely on, like health, policing and social care, provide the same high standards of treatment to all," he added.

But the 1990 Trust, a black-led human rights organisation, warned the body could become remote and inaccessible.

"We have already seen a great deal of scepticism about these proposals from the grassroots, who fear this will be a recipe for disaster," said chief executive Karen Chouhan.

"We will not support anything that weakens the position of equalities in terms of enforcing the law, including investigating and rooting out discrimination in organisations."