Victoria Wood has been voted Britain's funniest woman.

The 52-year-old topped a poll of more than 4,000 people, beating Dawn French into second place.

But very few recent stars have made the grade, with 38-year-old Caroline Aherne the youngest star on the list.

Paul O'Grady's alter-ego Lily Savage even got two votes in the nationwide poll, conducted by BMRB.

Simon Hemelryk, an editor at Reader's Digest, which commissioned the poll, said: "Comedy has traditionally been a man's world and the poll highlights how recently female comics have cracked the mainstream.

"Of the top 10, only two are not current performers, comedienne and raconteur Joyce Grenfell and Carry On star Hattie Jacques.

"There was notable lack of really new talent in the poll, even with the younger respondents - Linda Smith and Gina Yashere each scored a measly five votes and rising star Catherine Tate didn't feature at all."

The list is:

1. Victoria Wood
2. Dawn French
3. Jo Brand
4. Jennifer Saunders
5. Julie Walters
6.  Joyce Grenfell
7.  Hattie Jacques
8.  Joanna Lumley
9. Maureen Lipman
10. Kathy Burke
11. Hylda Baker
12. Patricia Routledge
13. Barbara Windsor
14. Marti Cane
15. Pam Ayres
16. Dame Thora Hird
17.  Meera Syal
18. Caroline Aherne