Daleks top Doctor Who scary list

The Daleks have exterminated their rivals after being voted Doctor Who's scariest villains in a vote by thousands of fans.

The robot-like enemies, which first appeared on TV more than 40 years ago, beat lots of new scary characters like the Ood and the Empress of Racnoss.

More than 21,000 Doctor Who fans voted in the survey.

Russell T Davies, the show's head writer, says the Doctor will face his biggest Dalek challenge on Saturday.

Click here for our scary Doctor Who pic gallery

He said: "Every time the Daleks return we make them bigger and better than ever before.

Top 10 Doctor Who villains 1. Daleks 2. Empty Child Zombies 3. The Beast 4. Cybermen 5. Clockwork Droids 6. The Ood 7. Empress of Racnoss 8. Werewolf 9. Autons 10. Chloe's Dad

"This time their plan is the most daring Dalek scheme yet. Even the Doctor finds himself out of his depth."

Nick Briggs, the voice behind the Daleks, said he has enjoyed speaking for the Daleks and other scary Doctor Who villains.

He added: "The Daleks seem to have stood the test of time as the scariest and most famous space terrors that the Doctor has ever encountered."

The Daleks will appear on Saturday's show which sees the Doctor and new companion Martha Jones visit New York in America in the 1930s.