Why do people from Blackburn and Burnley sound so different? Scientists will scan people's mouths to understand why the accents are so dissimilar - despite being just 10 miles apart

From the approachable Geordie dialect to the instantly recognisable Liverpool lilt, England is home to some of the world's most distinctive accents.

Now, a study plans to examine two Northern accents – those from Burnley and Blackburn.

Despite being just 10 miles apart, these accents are surprisingly different, and scientists from the University of Lancaster want to find out why.

The team will use ultrasound to examine the mouths of people with both accents.

'By investigating tongue shapes, using ultrasound imaging, we can look at different types of accents and differences in pronunciation,' says Professor Claire Nance, who is leading the team.