Tom and Jerry top cartoon survey

Tom and Jerry made their screen debut in 1940

Tom and Jerry have chased each other to the top of a poll about which cartoon stars adults most enjoyed as children.

The Hanna-Barbera duo - the stars of 161 cartoons from 1940 and winners of seven Oscars - beat the likes of Scooby-Doo, Top Cat and The Flintstones.

The survey of 1,000 adults aged between 25 and 54 was conducted on behalf of children's TV channel Boomerang.

"Animals with human characteristics are an unbeatable combination," channel manager Dan Balaam said.

He said that animal characters had proved most popular in the survey.

"The shows are incredibly inventive and witty with an endless stream of gags, which is why they appeal to all ages.

"The only humans in the list are in the form of The Flintstones, Popeye and The Wacky Races."

Parody

Scooby-Doo, launched in 1969 and recently made into a live-action movie starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, came second.

Eye-patch wearing secret agent Dangermouse, who made his debut on ITV in 1981, made it to third place.

ADULTS' TOP CARTOONS 1) Tom and Jerry (1940) 2) Scooby-Doo (1969) 3) Dangermouse (1981) 4) Top Cat (1961) 5) The Flintstones (1960) 6) Bugs Bunny (1940) 7) Popeye (1933) 8) Road Runner (1964) 9) Wacky Races (1968) 10) Hong Kong Phooey (1974) Source: BMRB telephone survey for Boomerang

The James Bond parody - with David Jason voicing Dangermouse and Terry Scott as his sidekick Penfold - is the only UK production on the list.

It was made by Manchester-based production house Cosgrove Hall.

Another Hanna-Barbera creation, Top Cat - the leader of a gang of New York alley cats - came fourth.

His adventures, based on 1950s US comedy, The Phil Silvers Show, were transmitted as Boss Cat in the UK to avoid confusion with a brand of cat food.

The Flintstones - another of six Hanna-Barbera series in the top ten - came fifth.

It too became a feature film, with John Goodman and Rick Moranis playing Fred Flinstone and Barney Rubble in 1994.