SOME 1,400 students and staff at The King Alfred School in Highbridge are getting involved in the discussion on selecting a date for the new annual Somerset Day.

And they are backing their famous namesake to be crowned as the theme for the celebration.

They have been devolving into the history books to learn how the school was given its name during its official opening in 1958 after being built on a site once owned by King Alfred of Wessex who ruled from 871 to 899.

He is the only English King to be given status of ‘The Great’ after leading troops to a victorious fight against the Danish Vikings.

Currently Somerset’s 900,000 residents are voting in the ‘Passion for Somerset’ event for one of three historic dates to become ‘Somerset Day’ – May 11, when King Alfred gathered all the people of Somerset; July 6, which remembers the Battle of Sedge-moor, or May 19, which commemorates the birth of St Dunstan.

King Alfred’s head of history, Martyn Ellis, said: “King Alfred is without doubt the best choice for the new annual Somerset Day.

“He was not just a tremendous king and the only one to be given the title of ‘Great’ but he also famously gathered all the people of Somerset.

“We are very proud of our links with Alfred the Great and our school is built on the very land that he once owned.

“We would urge others to help keep this incredible bit of history of a great man alive."