Beckham top symbol of Britain - poll

Football and fashion icon David Beckham is as British as the Union flag, according to a poll released today.

The nation's young adults voted the soccer star and the red, white and blue flag the joint top symbols of a modern Britain - ahead of a traditional feast of fish and chips, country pubs and the Royal Family.

The Manchester United star, who captains England, received 17% of votes from 25 to 34-year-olds when asked who or what best represented Britain.

But the results from a wide range of age groups found that overall the Union flag was the favourite symbol at 16%, followed by the monarchy at 15%, fish and chips at 13%, the countryside pub at 11% and corn-braided Beckham at 8%.

Northern soap Coronation Street received 7%, beating southern rival EastEnders at 6%.

Only 3% felt the popular tourist attraction the London Eye was worthy, but 5% thought nothing symbolised the British Isles.

The survey of more than 1,000 people conducted for Reader's Digest found that 81% were proud to be a Brit.

One fifth (20%) of Scots and 9% of the Welsh did not consider themselves British.

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