The aim is to create a massive digital patchwork quilt of images which will form a cultural jigsaw of Englishness. So far, 33 icons have been accepted including the FA Cup, the mini skirt, a cup of tea, Alice in Wonderland, The Blackpool Tower, the pub and the routemaster bus. No surprises there then, but some more interesting ones are emerging like Brick Lane, the Sutton Hoo Helmet (discovered at the Sutton Hoo site in Suffolk, a 7th century helmet which is one of only four in the world) and, announced on May 31st, the foxhunting ban.

"We can't ignore the fact that teacloths, place mats and paintings the world over depict hunting pinks and that they are identified with this country in a particular kind of way, " says Icons' managing director, Jerry Doyle. "But it is a hugely emotive issue and we want to be fair and to cover both sides of the debate." Consequently, the portrait of England will now include images that reflect both hunting, protests against it and the subsequent ban. A vast majority of the votes cast on the website were in favour of foxhunting - 24,395 compared with 11,907 against.

Some celebs have also thrown their personal icons into the project: for Mary Quant it's cottage pie and cardigans, for Clare Rayner it's fish and chips and cockney sparrows and for Ken Livingstone it's The People of England.