The success of the "big society" depends on faith-based organisations, Prime Minister David Cameron has said.

At a reception last week to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the Council of Christians and Jews Mr Cameron said that faith-based organisations could deliver public services that neither the Government nor individuals could offer.

He said: "It's what I call the Big Society - the idea that there's a huge space between government and the individual that can be filled by organisations, faith-based organisations perhaps in particular, that can do great things in terms of tackling some of the problems of our time."

Christian and Jewish leaders including the Archbishop of Westminster Vincent Nichols and the Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks attended the reception.

Image: (L-R) Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks, Prime Minister David Cameron and Archbishop of Westminster Vincent Nichols at Downing Street reception to mark the 70th Anniversary of the Council of Christians and Jews Photo: CCJ