A MAP has replaced the region's place names with those of celebrities - and it shows whether your area has a famous link. 

From the actor who played Billy Elliot to former Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond, the map reveals all of the links our part of the world has with those in the public eye.

By replacing the town name where they have either lived, or are from, the map uses Wikipedia and then plots the area they are linked to.

According to the map's creators, any notable person on Wikipedia can feature including those connected to and victims of criminal acts.

It means there are a few characters on there who may be well known among the region for their more infamous behavior. 

The Northern Echo:

The celebrities of County Durham and Darlington are shown on the map Picture: CONTRIBUTOR

The map, which can be accessed by clicking the link towards the end of the article, lets users hover over a particular area before a pop-up box explains their North East link.

A statement on the map further explains the process of the map - and why exactly a huge range of names appear.

It says: "A People Map of the UK, where city names are replaced by their most Wikipedia’ed resident: people born in, lived in, or connected to a place.

And here are just some of the few of those names.

TV presenter Vic Reeves, Mark Gatiss, Rowan Atkinson and Bobby Robson are among those listed across County Durham and Darlington.

Meanwhile Billingham's Jamie Bell, Stockton's Charlotte Riley and Saltburn's James Arthur are among those who have made the list on Teesside.

Up the road in Tyne and Wear, Wallsend's Sting, Gosforth's Alan Shearer and Wylam's George Stephenson are just some of the names also listed.

To view the North East map for yourself - click here