Local twang 'ay so sexy in big survey

The Wolverhampton and Birmingham accents have been branded the two worst in the country by a new survey to find the nation's sexiest.

Slang Black Country and Brummie phrases such as "babby", "it ay" and "bostin'" have led to the accents being named the two least attractive nationally. Bradford was voted the third least attractive accent in the country, while Coventry came in fifth.

Hotel chain Travelodge surveyed 5,000 Britons in order to find out the nation's 'sexiest' accents after research showed 25 per cent of Brits said they would make a special visit to a city for an appealing regional accent.

The survey revealed the Geordie accent was voted the UK's sexiest thanks to style icon Cheryl Cole, TV presenters Ant and Dec and Hairy Biker Simon King.

The Edinburgh accent, which was the UK's number one 'sexiest' accent in 2009, came in second place in the poll this year. Third place was awarded to the Belfast accent which also finished third last year.

Wolverhampton and Birmingham are well known for coining a number of slang phrases, including "It's Gone A Bit Black Over Bill's Mothers", meaning the sky has gone grey and rain could be on the way.

Terms such as "All Rairnd The Wrekin", meaning to travel a long way to get to a destination, and "I ay gooin theyer" are also common in Black Country dialect.

But proud Brummy, Professor Carl Chinn, today criticised the new survey as "pathetic". "There is no such thing as a better or worse accent," said Prof Chinn, author of history books of the Black Country and Birmingham.

"Such surveys are utterly meaningless and pathetic."