THE Essex accent only sounds unpleasant to the ears of snobbish listeners, a top language expert has suggested.

Critics have long bemoaned the erosion of the county’s traditional rural dialect by the spread of the East London-influenced “Issix” accent from the south of the county.

But Essex University researcher, Dr David Britain, said the harshness of pronunciations like “corta panda” (quarter pounder) may only be in the ear of the beholder.

He said: “Attitude to accent is usually influenced by attitudes towards the people who speak those accents.

“If the listener has formed an opinion that speakers with particular accents are to be looked down on for some reason, they will come to view the accent itself in a negative way.”

Dr Britain added the fame of Essex celebrities like Jodie Marsh and Denise Van Outen might also have affected views of the accent. He added: “Essex is such a diverse region it is a bit unfair to pick on one element and put the label of “Essex girl” on every woman in the county. Certain media personalities happen to have come from Essex and have formed that stereotype.”

The Essex Record Office recently compiled a CD of the more traditional Essex accent, still common in the north of the county, as part of a bid to prevent it being replaced.

Researcher Martin Astell said it was vital to preserve the “unique” dialect.

He added: “Everyone takes the mick out of the Essex accent, but it’s important to preserve it.”