We regret loss of accents

REGIONAL accents are on their way out with 40% of Brits unable to say where another person comes from any more.

Nearly a third of people believe they are hearing more neutral voices across the country than five years ago.

The sharp decline in dialects is thought to be due to people moving more for work and a lack of regional accents on TV – especially northern twangs like that of singer

Liam Gallagher, right.

More than 75% admit they would hate it if everyone sounded the same.

But around one in three of those questioned admitted their accent had become “weaker” as they have grown older.

And 80% of Brits found that when they return home, their accent grows stronger.

Almost a quarter of Scots fear their accents are most at risk of being lost, research by London North Eastern Railway also found.

The survey found nearly 70% cannot tell the difference between accents from London and Grantham, Lincs. And almost three quarters admit they struggle with the difference between Newcastle and Sunderland twangs. The train company has teamed up with radio DJ Edith Bowman to release an audio compilation of more than 20 accents and dialects. She said: “I proudly hail from a small town in Scotland and am very passionate about preserving not just my own accent but all the unique accents we have in Great Britain. “I hope with LNER that our Track Record will inspire the nation to hear, identify and celebrate a broad range of local accents along its east coast main line.”