Brighton has been ranked as the least patriotic part of England, according to a new study.

Research conducted by Paddy Power Games to coincide with St George’s Day found that only 16 per cent of people in the city would be celebrating the English national day.

The study found that residents in Brighton are more likely to celebrate St Patrick’s Day instead, with one in five (20 per cent) taking part in festivities for the Irish national day.

By contrast, Leicester was found to be the most patriotic part of England, with one in three people (33 per cent) saying they celebrate the saint - significantly above the national average of 21 per cent.

The study found that a quarter of English people don’t know the meaning behind St George’s Day, with 41 per cent of those aged 18 to 24 having no knowledge of who the English patron saint is.

Some 26 per cent of English people said they celebrate the Irish saint’s day on March 17.

A spokesman for Paddy Power Games said: “With a quarter of English people not knowing their own patron saint, we’re expecting a pretty quiet affair this St George’s Day.

“As an Irish brand, St Patrick is our man - and it seems like he wins the popularity contest across the water too.”

According to tradition, St George was a soldier in the Roman army who killed a dragon and saved the lives of many people.

As well as being England’s patron saint, he is also celebrated by other nations, including Romania, Catalonia, Bulgaria and Portugal.

Unlike St Patrick’s Day and St Andrew’s Day, the Scottish national day, St George’s Day is not a bank holiday in England.