THE city of Durham had to admit defeat yesterday as rival Sunderland was granted its own version of the popular board game Monopoly.

The two cities had ended up in a head-to-head clash after Darlington, Northumberland and Middlesbrough were eliminated in a phone poll.

But, despite Durham teacher Erika Dobbie, 24, who cast dozens of votes in an attempt to swing a second head-to-head poll on behalf of her beloved home city, Sunderland ended up winning with 58 per cent of the 5,000 votes.

Now the maker of the game, Winning Moves International, is considering printing a version of Monopoly for the whole of County Durham, including Darlington and Durham City, next year.

But first they must decide which of Wearside's famous monuments is to claim the most prestigious spot on the board - the "Mayfair" of Sunderland for its own version of the game.

Hot favourite is Sunderland AFC's Stadium of Light, but other sites in contention are: Penshaw Monument, a well-known site for motorists on the A1 for generations, the distinctive Wearmouth Bridge, the region's biggest theatre the Sunderland Empire, the historic St Peter's Church where St Bede studied, and the Winter Gardens.

Debate is just as fierce over which of the city's landmarks will be named as the game's most modest property, Old Kent Road, although candidates were not named for legal reasons.

"We're throwing that one open to the Sunderland public," said company spokesman Graham Barnes. "It's a real cult spot and just as popular, if not more so, than the Mayfair square. We will approach the organisation that tops the poll but we have to reserve the right to choose ourselves on that one. We get a lot of suggestions for the Old Kent Road square when we do this, some humorous and others spiteful."

Last year Winning Moves International printed a Newcastle version of Monopoly which is the second best selling alternative version of the game printed in Britain, behind the Essex version.

The Sunderland game will be the 19th to be printed in the UK.

Mr Barnes promised that, whatever the result of the coming poll, Sunderland AFC's Stadium of Light would receive a better placing than Newcastle United's St James' Park, which appears on a square worth £160.

Darlington was first out of the running in the initial poll for the new Monopoly game followed by Middlesbrough and Northumberland.

The results on which Sunderland landmarks and areas will be chosen for various spots on the board will be published in the next few days.

The Sunderland Monopoly goes on sale in October, priced £24.99.