Chitty Chitty Bang Bang will be landing in the North-East from the West End for the first date in its European tour.

The London Palladium production will be staged at the Sunderland Empire Theatre for 12 weeks, from December 9, with tickets going on sale on Monday, May 9

Characters include Chitty's eccentric inventor Caractacus Potts and his children Jemima and Jeremy, together with Truly Scrumptious and Grandpa Potts as they try to outwit Baron Bomburst and the evil Child Catcher in an adventure for all ages.

Based on a story by Ian Fleming and the United Artists film, the production began as the dream of James Bond producer Albert R Broccoli.

Broccoli's original plan for the tale always included a possible stage version, but not until now has stage technology allowed the dream to become a reality.

Producer Michael Rose, from North Shields, North Tyneside, said: "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is the London Palladium's longest-running musical.

"The London production cost £6.2m to put on and costs over a third of a million pounds to run per week.

"With over 1,250 performances having taken place already, a cast of 44, three sets of 19 children and two sets of ten dogs - Chitty truly is a fantasmagorical musical of epic proportions and I am very excited about bringing it to the Sunderland Empire, especially as my love of theatre began in the North-East."

Sunderland Empire general manager Dominic Stokes said: "We're absolutely ecstatic that Michael Rose is bringing Chitty Chitty Bang Bang here.

"It'll be the biggest production we have ever had."

The cast will be announced in the summer. For details, call the box office on (0870) 6021130.