A FESTIVAL celebrating the patron saint of England made people feel “more English” a survey suggests.

The poll conducted by students at the University of Winchester found that “many” people attending the Daily Echo-backed St George’s Day celebrations think more should be done to celebrate the event.

And nearly half of those wanted to see St George’s Day become a new public holiday.

Commissioned by former Southampton Itchen MP John Denham - who is now the director of the centre for English identity and politics at Winchester University - the survey asked 171 people at the April St George’s Day events how English it made them feel.

Mr Denham said: “Over a quarter said the event had made them ‘feel more English’ (and none said less). And he added that those who said they were neither British nor English, were more strongly in favour of increased celebration of England’s national day than the English themselves.

The results showed that 48 per cent of those surveyed thought more should be done to celebrate St George’s Day, 49 per cent thought it should be a public holiday and 1 per cent thought less should be done.

And the figures also showed that 14 per cent showed they felt English, 27 per cent they felt equally English and British, and 16 per cent felt British.

Mr Denham said: “From the outset organisers wanted the event to be both distinctively English, and inclusive of the city’s varied ethnic communities.

“The survey confirmed that the festival attracted a diverse audience. Three quarters had been born in the UK and one quarter outside. Of those who volunteered an ethnicity, two-thirds were white, and one-third black, Asian or other minority ethnicity.

“The 2017 event had a focus on the iconic Spitfire, designed, built and first flown in Southampton, and on the Polish squadron that has been the plane’s most deadly pilots. Members of the local Polish community – both recent migrants and those English born – took part in the festival and were included in the student survey”.

He added: “From a personal point of view I’m keen to celebrate our national identity because pride in our nation is about wanting to make your country better” .

More than 250 people attended the event at City College, with around 1000 people going to around 30 community events around the city.

The Daily Echo St George’s Day Awards saw dozens of individuals and groups across the city recognised for their work at a glittering ceremony at City College venue The Hub. From lunch clubs to domestic abuse services dozens were rewarded for their contributions to the community, supported by the city council, Mettricks and volunteer services.