THE region's stunning scenery and varied landscape could be the key to bringing A-list movie stars to work in the North-East.

Bosses at Newcastle-based Northern Film and Media, the people entrusted with attracting big budget movies to the region, have launched a guide plugging the area's visual delights.

It aims to sell the region's historic castles, rugged coastline, colliery villages and sprawling industrial landscapes as one of the world's top movie locations.

Tom Harvey, chief executive of Northern Film and Media, said: "This book has dozens of stunning photos of our region and clearly demonstrates the richness and diversity of amazing locations in the North-East.

"We have sent these out to a variety of production contacts and suggested that, if there is a location they need to find, we will do our absolute best to find it here.

"We can help them to find crew and facilities, hotel rooms and ensure they connect with the right people in the areas they wish to film."

The book features colour photos of Newcastle Central Station, the Tyne Bridge and Transporter Bridge, plus Hadrian's Wall, the Angel of the North and Tynemouth Long Sands.

But it also features more unusual attractions in Sunderland Park Lane Interchange, Newcastle Airport, Monument Metro Station, the pedestrian Tyne Tunnel, theByker Wall and Knotts' Flats in North Shields.

The firm is sending out hundreds of the glossy books to film production contacts all over the UK.

It hopes to build on recent successes, such as the use of Durham Cathedral and Alnwick Castle in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

Duncan Henderson, the film's executive producer, said: "Alnwick Castle and Durham Cathedral proved equally wonderful locations and made the northern film region an important element in the successful production of Harry Potter."

Some of the most famous movie scenes have been shot in the North-East, from El Cid in 1960, when the beaches of Spain were recreated at Bamburgh, in Northumberland, to the notorious murder in Gateshead car park, in the Michael Caine gangster classic, Get Carter.

Kevin Costner turned Hadrian's Wall into the woods around Nottingham in Robin Hood - Prince of Thieves in 1990 and Australian star Cate Blanchett filmed Elizabeth at Alnwick Castle in 1998.

Newcastle's party reputation and smart Quayside proved a pull for directors earlier this year, with comedies The One and Only and School for Seduction.