Tycoon Sir Richard Branson has been voted the South East's ultimate business icon.

Kidlington-based Sir Richard topped a survey by BT Business to find the most inspirational figure for small business owners.

He polled 49 per cent of the votes beating Sir Alan Sugar, star of TV show The Apprentice, who received just 14.7 per cent.

Terry Hughes, BT local business regional director for the South East, said: "Sir Richard is clearly an iconic figure to our region's small business owners, due to his fantastic achievement over the last 30 years and I am sure will continue to be in the future."