Churchill is to feature on the £5 note. Image: Bank of England

Sir Winston Churchill - who lived for much of his life in Kent - is to be honoured as the next famous figure to feature on a banknote.

Bank of England governor, Sir Mervyn King, made the annoucement today before Churchill's family at his former home, Chartwell in Westerham.

Sir Winston Churchill during a visit to the Netherlands

The plan is for the former Prime Minister's image to be featured on a £5 note, likely to be issued in 2016.

Commenting on the choice, the Governor said: “Our banknotes acknowledge the life and work of great Britons.

"Sir Winston Churchill was a truly great British leader, orator and writer.

"Above that, he remains a hero of the entire free world. His energy, courage, eloquence, wit and public service are an inspiration to us all.

Churchill's career and links to Kent

"I am proud to announce that he will appear on our next banknote.”

The reverse of the note will include:

• A portrait of Winston Churchill from a photograph taken in Ottawa by Yousuf Karsh on 30 December 1941.
• A view of Westminster and the Elizabeth Tower from the South Bank looking across Westminster Bridge.
• The image of the Elizabeth Tower with the hands of the Great Clock at 3 o’clock – the approximate time on 13 May 1940 when Sir Winston Churchill declared in a speech to the House of Commons: “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.” This declaration is quoted beneath the portrait.
• A background image of the Nobel Prize medal which he was awarded in 1953 for literature, together with the wording of the prize citation.

Chartwell, Churchill's home. Library picture

Churchill bought Chartwell, his much-loved family home in Kent in 1922.

It was there that his lifelong love of the land and animals found fulfilment on his smallholding, which included goats, pigs, birds and butterflies.