Hundreds of volunteers will be protecting shul-goers during the High Holy-Days, in what has been described as the largest communal security operation ever organised for the festivals.

The Community Security Trust has been holding briefings and training sessions around the country in preparation for the four-week period.

CST volunteers will be coordinating with police, commercial security guards and synagogue security rotas.

Mark Gardner, CST's director of communications, said: "CST wishes this was not necessary, but we cannot wilfully ignore the current security situation in Britain and Europe.

"Working with police and synagogues, our common goal is to protect communities across the UK."

He added: "The forthcoming chagim will see the largest security operation of its type.

"We thank our community for its co-operation and vigilance at this time and ask that any antisemitic or unusual activities be reported to those on security duty."

A poll released last week by the European Jewish Association and the Rabbinical Centre of Europe claimed 70 per cent of European Jews would not go to shul on Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur due to security concerns.

However, Mr Gardner said, CST did not believe "this in any way represents the reality of the views of British Jews".

He added: "It's certainly not our intention that security measures should cause people alarm. They're there to reassure our community."