A VIRTUAL tour of the region's treasures, including Lord Byron's marriage certificate, will be launched this weekend.

The Hearts and Heartaches CD-Rom includes photos and documents housed in Teesside Archives, Durham Record Office, Tyne and Wear Archives and Northumberland Record Office.

The images and stories illustrate the theme of love and hate - the national focus of Archive Awareness Month.

Liz Rees, chairwoman of the North East Regional Archives Council, said: "Archive Awareness Month offers the chance for people who might have not used archives to come along and see what is on offer."

The CD features Lord Byron's marriage certificate, which is held by Durham Record Office.

George Gordon Byron married Anne Isabella Milbanke on January 2, 1815, at Seaham House, now the luxurious Seaham Hall Hotel and Spa.

He proposed twice, in October 1812 and again in September 1814, before she accepted.

The happy couple settled in London and Anne gave birth to a daughter.

But the marriage unravelled when the poet's creditors sent in the bailiffs and she was thrown out of the house.

She petitioned for divorce on the grounds that her husband was insane and signed a settlement in April 1816. Byron left the country soon after, never to return.

The CD-Rom also includes photographs taken in 1907 at Swan Hunter of the Turbinia ship, early drawings by Joseph Swan of his idea for the light bulb and engravings by the renowned artist, Thomas Bewick.

It will be launched at the National British Fair for Family and Local History, Gateshead International Stadium today, between 10am and 4pm.