Belief in climate change has fallen slightly among the British public, but not as much as might be expected in the wake of the row over climate science and failed UN talks, according to aresearch.

A survey conducted by Ipsos Mori for researchers at the University of Cardiff showed that belief the climate was changing and concerns about it remained high, although both had declined since a similar poll in 2005.

The research also showed support for renewable power was strong, as people expressed concern about tackling global warming and the problem of energy security.

Almost three quarters of people (73 per cent) would even support wind farms within a five-mile radius of their house.

The poll also examined people's attitudes to nuclear power and found it had become slightly more acceptable to the public - in particular as part of efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

But there was still "no ringing endorsement" for the power source, Nick Pidgeon of Cardiff University's school of psychology said.

The research was conducted in the wake of the UN climate talks in Copenhagen last December, which delivered only a weak non-binding accord on cutting emissions and were widely judged to have been a failure.

People were polled between January and March this year, amid debate about a series of leaked emails from the University of East Anglia's Climatic Research Unit, which were seized on by "sceptics" who claimed they showed scientists manipulating data.