Parts of Yorkshire not as friendly as others

However a new and wide-ranging piece of research from the University of Cambridge has shown that parts of the region may not be quite as outgoing as suspected.

A study of more than 400,000 Britons has found wide personality difference between regions - with Scots proving the friendliest, Welsh the shyest and Londoners the least welcoming.

However the findings also included high levels of extroversion in pockets of Yorkshire. In contrast, those living in the Humber area tended to be quiet, reserved and introverted.

Researchers from the University of Cambridge looked at data gathered online about five traits - extroversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability and openness - to assess the personality of residents in different parts of the country.

Dr Jason Rentfrow, from the university’s Department of Psychology, said that the findings were more than “a bit of fun” and could help shape Government decisions.

He added: “Overall, the survey found that regions with large proportions of people scoring low in emotional stability had more residents who were working class and physically unhealthy.”

Metropolitan areas like London, Oxford, Cambridge, Brighton, Bristol, Manchester and Glasgow show greater openness - a trait made up of creativity, curiosity, imagination and intellect.

The study is based on data that was gathered as part of the Big Personality Test, an online survey published by the BBC in 2009 as part of a collaboration between the BBC and the scientific community.