More than two out of five jobseekers (42%) would change their accent as they think it would improve their chances of getting a job.

Research from online job board TipTopJob.com shows 46% of jobseekers think employers discriminate against people with a heavy regional accent.

But a Home Counties accent has been voted the most attractive by respondents, with 19% of 1,000 jobseekers rating this top, followed by Scottish (14%) and Irish (9%). Essex (7%) and Welsh (6%) were further down the scale.

Mike Dauncey, managing director of TipTopJob.com, said: "While we may all agree that being prejudiced by a person's accent is wrong, the truth is that people still judge individuals by the way in which they speak.

"If we can't persuade the employment market to be more open-minded regarding accents, then maybe we should get back to a time when children at school were being taught to speak with what is often thought to be Received Pronunciation. These young jobseekers will need all the help they can get."