A RELIGIOUS site which was the cradle for England's first and most famous historian could soon be ranked with landmarks such as Hadrian's Wall and Durham Cathedral.

The Bede's World visitor attraction, on Tyneside, is heading a bid to win World Heritage Site status for the remains of the Jarrow and Wearmouth monasteries, home to the renowned scholar, the Venerable Bede.

The bid, launched yesterday by the Bishop of Dur-ham, the Right Reverend Michael Turnbull, and the Duke of Gloucester, aims to raise the profile of the area and bring massive economic benefits to the North-East.

Keith Merrin, manager of Bede's World, said: "Every site that has won World Heritage status has reported a massive rise in visitor numbers.

"Also, studies at other sites have shown that World Heritage status has been a boost to the local economy in other ways.

"Employers want to come to places that have a strong heritage and strong culture, and we hope that will be the case here."

Bede joined the monastery in the 8th Century. Through his history of the English people and other works, he helped to make the kingdom of Northumbria a centre of spirituality and learning respected throughout the Christian world.

The twin Saxon monasteries of St Peter at Wearmouth and St Paul in Jarrow, were created by Benedict Biscop in 674AD and 685AD.

Their remains are at churches built later on the sites. They were included in the Government's "tentative list" of World Heritage Sites in 1999, but nothing was done to move them on to the list proper.

"Once you are on the tentative list, that is it, unless you get your act together and make it happen," said Mr Merrin.

Working with the Reverend John Pritchard, Bishop of Jarrow, he has set up a partnership to move the bid forward.

This includes Bede's World, the two monastery sites, local authorities and universities, English Heritage and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

The first meeting of the partnership takes place in November. The finalised bid should be put before the DCMS in 12 months' time.

There are only 14 World Heritage Sites in the UK. If the bid is successful, the monastery ruins will join the region's three existing sites at Hadrian's Wall, Durham Castle and Cathedral, and Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, in North Yorkshire.