Star Wars' Yoda has been voted the best screen puppet of all time.

The beloved Jedi Master saw off competition from other characters including Kermit The Frog and Zippy in a poll by U.K. movie library LoveFilm - held to mark the release of The Beaver, in which Mel Gibson communicates through a hand puppet.

The Kim Jong Il marionette from Trey Parker and Matt Stone's 2004 comedy Team America: World Police was runner-up, while lovable muppet Kermit came third.

Zippy from classic British TV show Rainbow - voiced by the late Roy Skelton - was in fourth place, while Sesame Street's Elmo was also a favorite.
 
LoveFilm editor Helen Cowley says, "It is clear we have a love of puppets whether on the small or big screen and it seems our favorites will never get old."