Kate Moss and chavs 'now sum up UK'

Harper's Bazaar surveyed 1,000 people for an issue of the new-look fashion magazine celebrating "everything British".

The poll found that "old Britain" is epitomised in the nation's collective consciousness by a stiff upper lip, impeccable manners and wartime leader Winston Churchill.

But Moss, 33, whose career was almost wrecked over pictures of the model allegedly chopping out lines of cocaine, best sums up modern Britain, along with multiculturalism and "chavs".

One in three believes the Queen is the nation's greatest living icon and 76% say fashion designer Dame Vivienne Westwood is the greatest English eccentric, according to the survey.

The research also found that mashed potato is the nation's favourite comfort food, while the countryside, the British sense of humour and a cup of tea is what Britons miss most when they travel abroad.

Asked what they would change if they could, 91% of people selected the weather.

On a scale of one to 10, the British rate themselves eight for sexiness.

The Burberry trench coat is Britain's most iconic fashion item, while 54% say Topshop is their favourite brand.

The survey appears in the September issue of the magazine on sale on Thursday.