CD bids to preserve Essex dialect

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The disappearing dialect and accents of Essex recorded during the 20th century have been captured by the Essex Record Office sound and video archive.

The office has produced a CD including speech and song, with examples of accents from across the county, some dating back to 1906.

Archivist Martin Astell said there were concerns even in the 1880s that London accents were displacing that of Essex.

A free event to launch the CD takes place at the record office on 11 May.

Mr Astell said: "It is frequently said that the 'real' Essex accent is being lost, but this is nothing new, even in the 1880s concern was expressed that the unstoppable spread of the London accent was displacing that of Essex.

"Hopefully, this CD will show how Essex people spoke and sang in years past and how the local accent has developed and changed."