A long-running radio serial which uses a pub in a Worcestershire village for location shots has been named as one of 20 national icons of England.

The Archers, whose fictional pub The Bull in Ambridge is based on the Old Bull in Inkberrow, rubs shoulders with Sherlock Holmes, Robin Hood and the Mini in the third ICONS - A Portrait of England collection.

The latest announcement brings the total number of official Icons of England in the ICONS collection to 53 - all given star treatment with themed in-depth features, quizzes, video clips and Interviews on the www. ICONS.org.uk website.

In addition, there are now approximately 600 icons nominations, which continue to attract votes and comments from the public.

Vanessa Whitburn, editor of The Archers, said: "The Archers has an amazingly loyal following and it's gratifying to hear that its place on the broadcasting landscape has been officially recognised in the Icons of England list.

"We are absolutely delighted. The Archers has always represented the values and concerns of rural England, from our stories on the farm to the gossip in the village shop.

"I'm sure the Archers and the Grundys will raise a glass in Ambridge tonight. For many, Ambridge is the quintessential English village."

The complete list of 20 new icons in the latest wave are: fish and chips; rugby; Robin Hood; The Tower of London; The Magna Carta; hedges; the bobby; foxhunting and the ban; the pint; White Cliffs of Dover; The Archers; Monty Python; Sherlock Holmes; Lake District; parish church; The OED; bowler hat; mini motor car; the oak tree; `Oxbridge'.

Funded by Culture Online, part of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, ICONS has attracted more than 350,000 votes for the Icons of England.