CHARLES Dickens has been ranked sixth in a poll of the nation’s most cherished and best loved-writers.

Medway has strong links with Dickens and several locations in the Rochester area featured in his books.

Restoration House in Crow Lane became Satis House, the home of Miss Havisham, in Great Expectations.

The list of 50 best-loved authors was carried out to mark the 2008 Costa Book Awards.

Children’s author Enid Blyton was top of the list. Despite her death in 1968 around eight million books are still sold worldwide every year including more than a million Famous Five tales.

Fellow children’s author Roald Dahl came second in the poll thanks to his classic books including James and the Giant Peach, The Witches and Matilda.

At number three was Harry Potter author JK Rowling.