The 68-year-old star garnered nearly a third of the votes in a survey conducted to launch FilmFour, Channel 4's new pay-per-view movie channel, finishing well ahead of Hugh Grant who came second with 13% of the vote.

Titanic star Kate Winslet scored a victory by topping the "sexiest actress" side of the survey ahead of Liz Hurley, Kate Beckinsale and Anna Friel.

Connery, with 32%, is one of three Scots who feature in the top four of the poll. Velvet Goldmine star Ewan McGregor took third place with 12%, while The Full Monty's Robert Carlyle finished with eight per cent. Another mature star, Jeremy Irons, aged 50, came fifth with seven per cent.

Connery's enduring appeal helped him see off current James Bond star Pierce Brosnan, as well as Ralph Fiennes, Gary Oldman and Sir Anthony Hopkins, all of whom finished outside the top five.

Connery recently remarked: "More than anything else, I'd like to be an old man with a good face like Hitchcock or Picasso."

Kate Winslet took 23% of all votes in the women's poll, beating runner-up Liz Hurley as well as Beckinsale, Friel, and Helena Bonham Carter.

Sir Paul helps anti-poacher campaign

Sir Paul McCartney: Donation will buy hi-tech equipment for police

Sir Paul McCartney is donating £5,000 to Avon and Somerset police to aid in the fight against deer poaching on Exmoor and in the Quantock Hills.

The money will be used to buy two pairs of night vision binoculars with which police can spot illegal hunters, who often leave shot deer wounded and dying in agony.

Sir Paul owns a 100-acre deer sanctuary on Exmoor and his wife Linda, who died of cancer in April, was a well-known supporter of animal welfare.

In a recent interview he spoke of meeting Linda through their love of animals, and insisted her work must go on.

"We've got to keep all of Linda's campaigns going. We'll keep up her good work. We'll do the cookbooks, the veggie food, we'll do the campaigns. We'll keep her torch burning."

Another award for Cameron

James Cameron: Oscar winner awarded Mexico's highest honour for foreigners

Director James Cameron has received the Mexican Order of Aztec Eagle in recognition of the attention Titanic brought to the Mexican filmmaking industry.

Cameron shot much of the Oscar-winning blockbuster in Baja California, taking advantage of its proximity to Hollywood, skilled technical staff and low wage costs.

The Order of Aztec Eagle, Mexico's highest award granted to foreigners, was presented to Cameron by President Ernest Zedillo as thanks for "the confidence placed in Mexican workers in the making of Titanic".

Director rips 'cleaned-up' Titanic

Director John Frankenheimer has joined in a row over a video store in Salt Lake City, Utah which is offering to edit out "racy" scenes in Titanic.

For $5, Sunrise Family Video will cut out the scene in which Kate Winslet poses nude and another in which she and Leonardo DiCaprio's character have sex.

The store's owner, Don Biesinger continues to offer this service despite Paramount Pictures' requests to cease and desist or face legal action.

"The guy is mutilating art," said the director of Snake Eyes. "It's like taking a Picasso painting of a nude and painting a bathing suit on it and trying to pass it off as a Picasso."

Samantha Fox charged with DUI

Former Page Three model Samantha Fox has been charged with drink-driving after being stopped by police near her home in Finchley, north London.

Fox, 32, made her name as a tabloid model before re-launching herself as a pop star and later becoming a born-again Christian.

She was taken to Edmonton Police Station in the early hours of the morning on Tuesday and charged with drink-driving. She is due to appear at Enfield Magistrates Court Thursday.