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FOOTBALL players and pop stars are the best role models for children, a new poll claims. It also found that most adults believe youngsters had no one to look up to.

Almost two-thirds of adults believe school-age children do not have appropriate role models in their lives, according to research by The Children's Society.

David Beckham was rated as setting the best example for children - more than half (55 per cent) of those questioned said he was a good, or very good, role model, compared to 18 per cent who said he set a bad example.

Singer Cheryl Cole came second, with 40 per cent rating her positively, compared with 27 per cent who said she was a bad role model.

Cartoon character Homer Simpson was voted the worst role model.

The National Mentoring Initiative poll, which questioned over 2,000 people, found children were less likely to look up to adults than in the past.

While more than a quarter of those questioned (28 per cent) said they looked up to their father when they were young, only around one in seven (14 per cent) said they thought that children today look up to their fathers.

Some 32 per cent of adults said they used to consider their mother a role model, while 30 per cent believed that today's children saw their mother in the same way.

Just 5 per cent of adults said they thought children looked up to their grandparents.

The poll also reveals that when it comes to politicians, David Cameron is seen as setting the best example, with a third (34 per cent) rating him as a positive role model.

A fifth saw Gordon Brown as a positive role model, while 16 per cent said the same about Nick Clegg.

Rashid Iqbal, director of The Children's Society's National Mentoring Initiative, said: "This poll reflects our concerns that many children are living without positive role models.

"If children are not looking up to adults this is not the children's fault.

"Both parents and society at large have a responsibility to enact a change of heart in our society and actually live by the values that they espouse and be strong and positive role models, providing continuity and support to a child or young person's life.

"At the moment this seems more aspiration than reality. Adults have a collective responsibility to make childhood better for all children."

:: The poll questioned 2,006 people on 20-24 March.