More antisemitic incidents were recorded in Britain in 2014 than ever before, the Community Security Trust has revealed.

There were 1,168 cases reported to the charity — the highest since its records began.

The figure was more than double the number in the previous year, and included the worst-ever month. Last July saw 314 cases of Jew-hatred.

It is the first time the number of antisemitic incidents has reached four-figures in a calendar year — the previous highest total was 931 in 2009.

Attacks were spread across Britain, although three-quarters were recorded in London and Manchester. The growth represented a 137 per cent year-on-year rise in London; in Manchester it was a 79 per cent increase. CST recorded incidents in 89 other places.

The most common cases were random verbal attacks in public against people wearing kippot, Jewish school uniforms or Magen David jewellery.

Releasing its annual antisemitic incidents report, CST said the biggest spike came after the Gaza conflict last summer, but highlighted a 38 per cent rise in the first six months of last year, before the violence between Israel and the Palestinians.

David Delew, CST chief executive, said: “The Jewish community should not be defined by antisemitism, but last year’s large increase in recorded incidents shows just how easily antisemitic attitudes can erupt into race hate abuse, threats and attacks.”

Home Secretary Theresa May said: “We are listening, and we are taking robust action against antisemitism wherever we find it.”

There was an increase in the number of violent incidents — with 81 assaults representing a 17 per cent rise compared to 2013. One attack was classified by CST as “extreme” violence — a potential threat to life.

The number of cases of assault and of "extreme violence" were however significantly lower than in 2009, the year of the previous Gaza conflict.

The vast majority of the cases recorded were in the abusive behaviour category — 884 in total. These included episodes of antisemitic graffiti, attacks on social media and hate mail.

The CST records show Jewish organisations, companies and events were targeted in 174 cases, with a further 39 attacks on high-profile Jewish figures.

On university campuses there were 19 incidents reported, and 69 against synagogues and their congregants.

Nine cases were recorded in Bradford. One included two men shouting outside a synagogue “you’re killing our babies in Palestine, why don’t you go back to your own country?”

In another random attack, a rabbi travelling on a train from Newcastle to London was verbally abused by a group of football fans who shouted “look there’s a Jew” before singing antisemitic songs and throwing food at him.