To Kill a Mockingbird has been hailed the most inspirational book of all time, according a new study by British readers.

Researchers polled the nation's literature lovers to discover the books which have inspired, awed and influenced us most.

And Pulitzer Prize winner and American classic, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee came first in the survey of Britons of all ages.

Originally banned in some schools due to its themes of racism and sexual violence, the book continues to captivate younger generations of readers and feels as relevant now as it was when first published in 1960.

The plot and characters are loosely based on Lee's observations of her family, her neighbours and an event that occurred near her hometown of Monroeville, Alabama when she was 10.

Scout Finch and her older brother, Jem spend much of their time with their friend Dill and spying on their reclusive and mysterious neighbour, Boo Radley.

When Atticus, their widowed father and a respected lawyer, defends a black man named Tom Robinson against fabricated rape charges, the trial and tangent events expose the children to evils of racism and stereotyping.