BY 'eck, it's grim oop north - especially when t'rest o't'country thinks yer accent sounds reet daft!

Lancashire twang has become a thing of ridicule, often mimicked by ill-mannered southerners who find it hilarious and much used by TV sitcom writers to portray the cliched Thick Northerner character.

But it's no laughing matter when other people won't take you seriously because of your voice.

Some say a Lancashire accent can make it hard for you to get a job, win promotion or have successful relationships.

If you've suffered discrimination because of your diction, you could feature in a BBC TV documentary.

The regional current-affairs series Close Up North is looking for people with a tale to tell about how their local accent has affected their life.

Producer Jane Drinkwater says: "Do people react to the way you speak - and do you think they feel prejudice towards you because of it?

"Have you been turned down for a job or for promotion because of your accent? Has the way you speak affected your personal relationships because of the judgements people make about you?

"If you have a story to tell then I'd be very keen to talk to you. You can leave a message for me on 0161 244 3106 or write to me at Close Up North, BBC Broadcasting House, Oxford Road, Manchester, M60 1SJ."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.