Roald Dahl has been voted primary school teachers' favourite author.

A survey found five of his works are among their top 10 books for children under the age of 11.

The man behind The Twits and Charlie And The Chocolate Factory was named by almost twice as many teachers as Julia Donaldson and JK Rowling who shared second place.

Donaldson's The Gruffalo was voted the best book for children in the survey of 848 primary school teachers by the education resources website Teachit Primary.

Siobhain Archer, the website's founder, said: "The Gruffalo was teachers' overwhelming favourite book at the moment, polling more than twice as many votes as Louis Sachar's Holes in second place.

"But five of Roald Dahl's books appeared in the top 10 and when counted together with all those who could not name a favourite title but who said any of Dahl's books were a hit with their classes, a staggering 17% of primary teachers named him as their favourite children's author.

"Michael Morpurgo, author of War Horse and teachers' fourth favourite behind Dahl, JK Rowling and Julia Donaldson, was the standout choice as the person teachers would most like to visit their class."

The poll also found 22% of teachers spend 10 hours a week just planning lessons and a 57% spend between five and 10 hours a week planning.

Nearly two-thirds (62%) would not work as anything else and that teaching was already their ideal job.

Archer added: "It's obviously tremendously encouraging that so many primary teachers feel they are already in their dream job, despite the challenges they face."

Their favourite children's authors are:

1. Roald Dahl
2= Julia Donaldson
2= JK Rowling
4. Michael Morpurgo
5. Louis Sachar
6. CS Lewis
7. Philip Pullman
8. Enid Blyton
9. Maurice Sendak
10. David Walliams

Meanwhile teachers' top 10 favourite children's books saw The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson take the title, with Holes by Louis Sachar, Roald Dahl's Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, and Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe by CS Lewis following close behind.