Strong R sound of some Lancashire accents in danger of dying out

Lancastrians such as actor Jane Horrocks might emphasise the R sound in certain words, unlike people from the rest of England. Photograph: Tristram Kenton/The Guardian

One of the most distinctive accents in the north of England could be about to disappear, a study has found.

The strong R sound found in some Lancashire accents is slowly being replaced with a weaker version more common in the rest of the country, the research by Lancaster University has found.