This flagging sense of identity has emerged in a new survey carried out by YouGov across England to find out how powerful a connection people feel with the county they live in.

Of those in Norfolk who took part, just 36pc said they had a 'very strong' attachment to the place.

A map showing levels of regional pride across the country. (Image: YouGov)

The figure puts Norfolk outside the top ten and some distance behind Cornwall (54pc), the only county where the majority of locals have a very strong sense of connection.

Also ranking higher were Cumbria (44pc), Devon (42pc) and Merseyside (38pc).

It is not all bad news though. Norfolk - which came in 12th position - is still some way over the national average (29pc) and comfortably ahead of everywhere else in East Anglia.

The figure for Suffolk was 31pc, Essex, 23pc and Cambridgeshire, just 17pc.

A chart showing levels of regional pride across the country. (Image: YouGov)

The weakest sense of identity in England was in Buckinghamshire, where just 15pc said they felt a strong connection.

Of those polled in Norfolk, a further 41pc said they had a 'fairly strong' attachment, with 16pc saying 'not very strong' and 4pc saying not at all.

In Suffolk, 43pc said 'fairly strong', 20pc, 'not very strong', and 5pc not at all.

Overall, the survey found county identity is generally weaker in the Midlands and the south east, while stronger in the south west and the north.

© Norwich Evening News