A cup of tea, Punch and Judy and Alice in Wonderland are among the "truly English" symbols selected to feature on a Government website celebrating the country's heritage.

And when Bradfordians today picked their own national symbols to add to the list they plumped for fish and chips, cricket and a pint of Timothy Taylor's beer - as well as Bradford City Hall.

The website, launched yesterday, sets out to list the icons that best represent England and what it means to be English and it was was broadly welcomed in Bradford.

Among the first dozen items chosen by the Government for the website were Stonehenge, the FA Cup and the Routemaster double-decker bus.

People will be able to nominate more to build up a list of hundreds, giving a portrait of the nation in the initiative funded by Culture Online, part of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

More items will be announced every three months and the collection can be viewed at www.ICONS.org.uk.

Culture Minister David Lammy, said: "The website helps us to explore how our response to icons has shaped our understanding of personal and national identity."

Today, people in Bradford voted for many of the district's architectural jewels to be added to the list, including landmarks such as Cartwright Hall, the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television and City Hall.

Bradford Council's executive member for regeneration and culture, Councillor Simon Cooke, said Yorkshire ale should feature.

He said: "You can not get more English than a pint of ale and the best ale is brewed right here in Keighley by Timothy Taylor.

He added that the building where he works was also a very English icon and said: "My favourite building in the world is City Hall.

"It is a fine example of Victorian architecture and it sums up all that is great about local government. It is symbolic of all that and part of what makes this city great.

"We are very fortunate to be born in this country.

"The good life that we have in this city is due to the sacrifice and hard work of those who went before us and I think it is important to mark that."

Steve Manthorp, special projects officer for Bradford Council, said he would nominate Lister Park.

He said: "It has good Victorian architecture, a bandstand and the Mughal Gardens.

"It really symbolises England because the land has been given over to the people, which was a very English thing to do."

And he also nominated Lady Penelope from Thunderbirds, Stephen Fry, Marmite, miserable soap operas and eccentric characters.

When we asked people in the city's streets, though, fish and chips, a cricket match and even England's terrible weather featured highly.

Sajid Ali, of Emm Lane, Heaton, spoke for many of those we talked to.

He said: "Fish and chips are the ultimate English icon. But the wet weather, rain and wind is also really English. When I go away I really miss it.

"Drinking lots of alcohol is another very English thing!"

It is planned to extend the project to Wales, Scotland and possibly Ireland if funds become available.