Minority ethnic groups in north Wales use up to 24 languages

But it found they are often isolated from public services, and agencies responded slowly to their needs.

Public awareness of the area's ethnic diversity is often lacking, according to Susheela Lourie, of the North Wales Race Equality Network.

She said: "There is a general need for raising awareness of different cultures that there are in north Wales."

The research, carried out by a team from University of Wales Bangor and the North Wales Race Equality Network, was launched in Llandudno on Thursday.

It found a diverse range of minority ethnic communities across the area's six counties, with 24 minority languages commonly spoken.

The largest religious grouping was Christian, followed by Muslim.

The 2001 Census showed 6,000 people of minority ethnic background were living in the area, although that figure is thought to be on the conservative side as some people from ethnic minorities would not have filled in a census return, for various reasons.

But many people living in north Wales remain unaware of the needs of ethnic minority groups, it said.

The study was commission by the Black and Ethnic Minority Support Team (Best) an umbrella organisation funded by the Communities First Strategy, which aims to help people in more disadvantaged areas.

'Different cultures'

But the report said only 12% of north Wales' black and ethnic minority population live in such areas and many of them are unaware of efforts to improve the areas they live in.

The research area covered Conwy, Denbighshire, Gwynedd, Flintshire, Ynys M�n and Wrexham.

Commenting on the report, Ms Lourie said: "There is a general need for raising awareness of different cultures that there are in north Wales.

"We did some work in a school and were surprised at the 'non understanding' if I can put it charitably."

The report found there was a growing number of Filipino nurses coming to work in north Wales either in hospitals or care homes.

And the arrival of asylum seekers and refugees was also raising new issues, it said.

Ms Lourie said she hoped the report could become a useful tool for agencies in targeting their work.

"There are lots of statutory authorities saying 'we need some more information, where can we get this information from', and I know that this report will help them."