We want to celebrate today!

A survey out today shows that 62 per cent of England wants to celebrate 23 April as England's national day.

Edmund Whitehouse, assistant editor of This England magazine, said St George's Day - also Shakespeare's birthday - should get as much backingas St Patrick's Day. "But part of the problem is St George has been hijacked by football hooligans," he said.

England's patron saint, thought to have been a senior soldier in the Roman army, and famous for having slayed a dragon, was executed on 23 April in 303 AD.

The English Beef and Lamb Executive, which carried out the poll, said 68 per cent of the 1,000 respondents said roast beef and Yorkshire pudding should be England's official dish.