York was also defined as in the south by the academic

Vowel sounds, coal seams and a fondness for shandy have all been used to try to describe the imaginary line that divides the north from the south.

Now a suggestion aired on Radio 4 that Manchester, Leeds and York could all be in the south has sparked a furore.

Mark Tewdwr-Jones, from Newcastle University, said that he had divided the UK based on London’s sphere of influence. “There are several ways you could define a northern region, but perhaps the most pertinent question is ‘where does London end?’ ” he said.

“My map is a northern area defined as being ‘not London’, where London’s sphere of influence extends over most of the country, determined by two-hour commuting patterns to London, which is becoming the norm.”