Almost three quarters of asylum applications in Britain come from countries where conflicts are occurring, according to a report from leading campaign groups.

Coinciding with Refugee Week, the study highlights the impact that violence such as civil wars can have on civilian populations.

It says that most asylum seekers are genuinely fleeing persecution and violence, and are not economic migrants.

According to Home Office statistics, around 74 per cent of asylum applications are made by people from countries where the International Institute of Strategic Studies has said that conflicts are occurring.

Published by organisations including Amnesty International, Refugee Action, the Refugee Council and Save the Children, the study highlights human rights abuses as another key reason for population displacements.

"People are not choosing to leave – they are choosing to live," said Refugee Council chief executive Maeve Sherlock.

"Faced with the prospect of death, or rape and torture at the hands of soldiers and armed militia, millions of people every year flee their homes.

"As tough policies and hostile attitudes make it ever more difficult to seek asylum in Britain, this report is a timely reminder of one of the main reasons people come here seeking protection - conflict.

"Refugees are people forced  to flee their homes in fear of their lives – this is a fact that is all too often overlooked."

Sherlock also said the UK's "tradition of offering sanctuary to people fleeing conflict, persecution and other human rights abuses" should also be recognised, along with the positive contribution that refugees have made to the UK.