A poll carried out by the organisers of the always smashing London Games Festival sees Sonic the Hedgepig running roughshod (but rapidly) over the bones of eastern European hardman, GTA IV's Niko Belic as the UK's favourite video game character.

The Blue Blur even managed to nip past former arch-enemy and now running buddy, Nintendo's Mario. Also mentioned was the ancient and revered Max Payne - an appearance we are sure has nothing to do with the recent US Number 1 movie of the same name.

Votes came in from 500 gamers (and not people pushing movies) with the full Top 10 as follows:

1. Sonic the Hedgehog (24%)
2. Super Mario (21%)
3. Lara Croft (Tomb Raider) (16%)
4. Donkey Kong (11%)
5. Pac Man (10%)
6. Link (The Legend of Zelda) (5%)
7. Max Payne (4%)
8. Pikachu (Pokemon) (3%)
9. Niko Belic (Grand Theft Auto IV) (2%)
10. Blanka (Street Fighter) (1%)

Find out more about the London Games Festival (which has even made former game hater and current London mayor, Boris Johnson, change his mind about our favourite pastime) right here.