Local hero King Alfred the Great came top of the poll in a contest to find out who was the greatest political figure in the West Country.

The showdown was organised by BBC West for the Politics Show and thousands of people voted in a phone-poll.

King Alfred the Great, the Saxon king who drove out the Danes, has strong links with Chippenham and used to stay in a palace in the town.

Chippenham Museum and Heritage Centre manager Mike Stone was delighted King Alfred was voted the greatest Westerner.

"Although he was the farthest away in time, I think he had the greatest effect on the country," said Mr Stone.

"It's down to him we speak English. He reorganised and codified the law, promoted education for everybody, encouraged art and translated Latin texts into English.

"The Victorians called him Alfred The Great and they were spot on."

Alfred was king for 18 years and he died in 899 AD.

The Great Westerners contest lined up six political figures and around 3,000 people took part in the voting.

Three were dropped from the final line-up Beau Nash of Bath, Civil War MP John Pym and William Pitt the Elder leaving King Alfred to battle it out with Bristol docker Ernest Bevin, a key player in the Labour movement, and William Tyndale, who translated the bible into English.

The big debate took place on Friday in Bristol.

When the three candidates with the fewest votes were knocked out of the contest their proponents were allowed to transfer their votes to one of the remaining three and Alfred was victorious.

Veteran councillor Chris Clarke spoke up for the Wessex king during the debate and paid tribute to his courage and determination.