A major survey involving readers of The Guardian has found that under half of UK citizens call themselves British.

Responses from more than 16,500 people showed that residents of England were the most likely to call themselves British when asked to "plant a flag" where they lived. A large majority of Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish residents, however, reject that label.

Most of the residents of those countries chose to identify themselves with their home nation. Compared with 6,594 who said they were British, 2,874 said they were Scottish, 2,386 chose English, 1,355 Welsh, 895 Irish, and 129 Northern Irish.

Another 1,309 people rejected the categories in the survey, instead choosing 'other'. Many of those responses came from residents of Cornwall, where there is a significant lobby for devolution and independence.

In the UK's most northerly island group, Shetland, a number of readers also selected 'other'. This might signal support for the Shetlanders who believe the islands ought to break away from Scotland and align themselves with their nearest neighbours - and historic rulers - in Norway.