MONOPOLY fans can pass go and collect Durham Cathedral for £400, with the launch of a County Durham edition of the world-famous board game.

More than 20 Durham landmarks and institutions are included in the game, which is expected to prove popular for Christmas after hitting high street shops on Friday.

Following a public vote, top square on the board - traditionally reserved for Mayfair - went to Durham Cathedral, with neighbouring Durham Castle taking the Park Lane spot.

The Northern Echo is in at Fleet Street, with attractions such as Raby Castle, near Staindrop, and The Bowes Museum, in Barnard Castle, also included.

The cheapest square, usually given over to Old Kent Road and available for £60, goes to Anker House Museum, one of the UK’s tiniest museums, at St Mary’s and St Cuthbert’s Parish Church, in Chester-le-Street.

The County Durham edition was formally launched outside Durham Cathedral on Friday.

The Very Rev Michael Sadgrove, the Dean of Durham, said: "We feel privileged to occupy one of the two coveted deep blue spaces.

"I have always enjoyed playing Monopoly - though my wife doesn’t always appreciate my competitiveness.

"But it’s great to welcome the new County Durham version."

Board creator Mark Marriott said: "The game is a celebration of the county of Durham and we would like to thank everyone for their input.

"We are sure this unique official edition will prove a perfect Christmas gift."

Since Monopoly was invented in 1935 in the USA, the game has spread across the world and is played in 37 different languages.

Newcastle, Sunderland and Middlesbrough already boast their own versions.

The squares on the County Durham board are: Anker House Museum, Chester-le-Street: £60 Fowler’s Yard, Durham: £60 Chester-le-Street railway station: £200 High Force, upper Teesdale: £100 Killhope, The North of England Lead Mining Museum, Weardale: £100 Durham University’s Botanic Garden, Durham: £120 West Auckland FC, winners of the first World Cup: £140 Sedgefield Racecourse: £140 Durham County Cricket Club’s Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street: £160 The Weardale Railway: £200 Durham Tourism: £180 Durham Indoor Market: £180 Dalton Park shopping centre, near Murton: £200 Raby Castle, near Staindrop: £220 The Northern Echo: £220 Durham Heritage Coast: £240 Locomotion: The National Railway Museum at Shildon: £200 The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle: £260 Gala Theatre and Cinema, Durham: £280 Netpark, Sedgefield: £300 The Market Cross, Barnard Castle: £300 Headlam Hall Hotel, near Ingleton: £320 Durham railway station: £200 Durham Castle: £350 Durham Cathedral: £400