TV cameramen and photographers who had squeezed into The New Inn at Wedmore cheered when the winner marched across the gallery to accept the prize, a turnip mounted on a six-inch nail.

Organisers said they were "delighted with the lack of effort taken to create the work".

Ivor Prance, 69, a former army sergeant from Worth near Wookey said: "I have entered this most coveted art award on several occasions and I really feel that the lack of effort this year has really paid off.

Ivor said the art took "no time at all" "I knew the moment I came up with the idea I could pull the wool over the judges eyes."

Ivor who describes his work as "fluffy, furry and flocculent" said: "The work took no time at all to create. I picked it off of a barbed wire fence whilst thinking how the voting public and unsuccessful competitors must feel after John Sergeant's controversial exit from Strictly Come Dancing."

Organiser Trevor Prideaux said: "This year's event attracted a total of 69 entries, which by strange coincidence is exactly the same amount as last year.

"It's fantastic that Ivor has won, he clearly has what it takes to be recognised in modern art circles (which more often than not have no point) and will be remembered in art history for no time at all.

"I believe that over the last ten years the artists entering The Turnip Prize have created by far better works than Nicholas Serota and The Tate Britain Gallery could ever wish to exhibit."

The Turnip Prize, which recognises bad art, started in 1999 as a reaction to Tracey Emin's installation 'My Bed' which was short-listed in the Turner Prize.

According to the rules, there are no barriers to entry into the competition, they simply state: "You can enter anything you like, but it must be rubbish."

Regulars at pubs in Wedmore, near Cheddar, then vote for the winner.

Previous entrants include 'Soap Opera' (a bar of soap on top of an operatic musical score), 'A Pair of Dice Lost' (two dice on top of a map) and 'Birds Flew' (an empty birds' nest with a box of flu remedy) which took the honours in 2005.

Some entrants are disqualified for being too good.

The Turner Prize was won by artist Mark Leckey, 44, who collects £25,000 for his exhibition including cartoon characters such as Homer Simpson.