Which current dialect of English is closest to Old English?

Michael   Thu Apr 29, 2010 9:50 am GMT
I have heard different answers to this before, including suggestions of West country and North east.
Quintus   Thu Apr 29, 2010 1:02 pm GMT
Northumbrian dialect of English is closest related to Old English and to Friesian (or Frisian - Frysk).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frisian_languages