Footballer is the most suitable role model for children, according to a survey of British adults released Wednesday.

By contrast, the least suitable idols were Homer Simpson, the slobbish, beer-swilling dad from the hit US cartoon "The Simpsons", followed by foul-mouthed chef Gordon Ramsay and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Beckham, the former England captain who plays for Los Angeles Galaxy in the United States, was rated a "very good" role model by 19 percent of those surveyed and "good" by 36 percent.

In second place on the list was David Cameron, the leader of Britain's main opposition Conservative Party.

More than 2,000 people were quizzed for the research, which was carried out online in March by Opinium Research and released by charity the Children's Society to mark the launch of a new mentoring initiative.

Source: AFP