The creators of Oscar-winners Wallace and Gromit today denied rumours that the celebrity duo were to lose their trademark Northern accents - in favour of a 'cleaned-up' southern one.

The rumour sparked outrage from northern MPs, including Wakefield's David Hinchcliffe and Barnsley East's Jeff Ennis, in Parliament. They denounced it as an 'insult to all people with Northern accents.'

In York, actor Martin Barrass was also horrified at the prospect. He said: "It would be a shame. I'm suitably outraged at the idea. The Northern voice has a real warmth."

But creators of the Wensleydale cheese-loving duo Aardman Animations today denied the story, saying it had all been a mix-up.

They reassured the pair's millions of fans that the gentle tones of Last of the Summer Wine actor Peter Sallis were here to stay.

Aardman spokesman Arthur Sheriff said the story blew up after Oxford University Press produced an educational video of The Wrong Trousers, aimed at teaching English to foreign students.

"These MPs haven't even seen the video. It's still Peter Sallis, it's still the Wallace we love.

"You don't mess around with a national treasure.

"We've taken the Northern voice all over the world and people haven't had a problem with it."

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