A NEW survey suggests strong regional accents are a distinct disadvantage to people who want to succeed in business.

Research shows that only one per cent of business people contacted considered them an advantage.

In fact, strong overseas accents are regarded more favourably for businessmen than a UK regional accent.

The survey, by The Aziz Corporation, found that only eight per cent of respondents believed businessmen with a Liverpool accent to be successful. But 23 per cent of respondants believed business people with a Geordie or Scottish accent conveyed above average honesty.