THE unique Cumbrian tongue has been immortalised in an online dictionary of dialect.

Author Richard Byers has spent two years adding words and idioms picked up across the county to original 1859 documentation of the language.

More than 7,000 words, old and new, have been published in an e-book by the 54-year-old.

Among the phrases documented are Mayzlin – a simpleton or fool – and O’as yan, which means all the same. He said records of the oral development of the county needed to be continually updated.

“It's essential that dialect isn't lost for future generations.

“It's changed through each generation – even text messaging has had an influence on the words we use in Cumbria today.”

Mr Byers has put his book for sale for £3.60 online.