Cassani and Blunkett appealed for Olympic bid volunteers

It means almost 20 million people could now be giving up their free time to work for the benefit of others.

The increase in volunteers was announced by Home Secretary David Blunkett as part of an appeal to find helpers for the 2012 Olympic bid.

After meeting young volunteers from east London, he said "active citizens will be a vital part of the games".

Lives 'transformed'

The rise in the number of people giving up their free time to help others at least once a month exceeded the government's target of one million, the Home Office said.

Figures released in 2001 suggested 18.6 million people were volunteering at that time.

An army of volunteers would help out the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in a range of different tasks Barbara Cassani

"Communities and lives are transformed when people get involved," Mr Blunkett said.

"That is why raising the level of volunteering and community participation in England is a key target for the Home Office, and central to the government's civil renewal agenda.

The Home Office Citizenship Survey 2003, due to be published in full in the next few months, said the percentage of people aged 16 and over who did voluntary work increased from 48% in 2001 to 51% in 2003.

Olympic target

Mr Blunkett praised the role of workers in the community when he met young volunteers from Langdon Secondary School in East Ham.

He was joined at the Queen Mother Sports Centre in Victoria in central London by Barbara Cassani, chair of the Olympic bid.

He said volunteering was on course to rise 5% by 2006 and added: "This achievement should now spur us on.

"London's bid for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games is the next target."

Ms Cassani said: "An army of volunteers would help out the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in a range of different tasks.