JK Rowling is currently writing the final Harry Potter book

Rowling topped the poll for The Book Magazine, receiving nearly three times as many votes as second-place author, fantasy writer Terry Pratchett.

The pair were followed by previous Booker Prize winners Ian McEwan, Salman Rushdie and Kazuo Ishiguro.

Zadie Smith, who won the Orange Prize for her novel On Beauty on Tuesday, came in at number 33.

"Our survey provides a fascinating insight into what the British public thinks makes a 'great' writer," said Christine Kidney, editor of the trade paper.

"It shows how a writer can connect with us, as if we were the only reader in the world, and it's why books prove to be such enduringly popular objects."

Other writers who made it into the top twenty include Nick Hornby, Jonathan Coe, Philip Pullman and Muriel Spark.

Rowling is currently writing the seventh and final book in the Harry Potter series.