Surprisingly, in this day and age of Harry Potter and its many clones and successors, the Famous Five books are still UK’s favourite children’s books. Despite accusations of racism, sexism and being too un-PC for the 21st century, the Enid Blyton novels came out on top in the poll.

The poll was conducted ahead of a new campaign by education charity Plan UK.

I never fell in love with the books; I did read them as a child but I was more into the Boy’s Adventure books by Willard Price and I discovered science fiction at an early age. Who wants to read about a group of 1940s children on a bus when there are alien worlds to visit?!