THE residents of a North-East town have suffered from collective amnesia and forgotten that it was one of the cradles of the English-speaking world.

The good people of Chester-le-Street, in County Durham, always remember that their town gave birth to footballer Bryan Robson and has proved a graveyard for stumbling quiz show contestants - in fact, no one ever lets them forget.

But they have managed to misplace the notion that their little town is the spot where the first ever translation of the Bible was made.

It is not like losing the car keys or forgetting to zip up your fly - this is arguably the world's most famous book, written in arguably the world's most influential language.

The aberration came to light when a free rail ticket competition in The Northern Echo's sister paper, The Advertiser, asked townsfolk what the north Durham town should be most famous for.

Out of 20 applicants, only three managed to get it right - these three knowing that the famous and beautiful Lindisfarne Gospels were translated from Latin into Anglo-Saxon by a little-known monk called Aldred.

That this happened in Chester-le-Street, which was a pre-medieval hive of activity at the time, seems to have been lost in the mists of time.

Alex Nelson, owner of the town's railway station and competition composer, said: "The most famous book in the world, translated into the most important language in the world, centuries before John Wycliffe, and where did it happen - Chester-le-Street of course.

"I find it absolutely staggering that hardly anyone seems to know this. I don't blame the people of Chester-le-Street, though. It looks like they just haven't been told.

"The town should start promoting this and really use it to get us on the map."

The version came about when Saxon monks fled Holy Island to avoid raiding Vikings.

In the 108 years that St Cuthbert's body lay in Chester-le-Street's Saxon Cathedral, before moving to Durham in 995AD, a monk called Aldred took the Lindisfarne Gospels and added an Old English translation between the lines of Latin.

Now sitting in the British Library in London, visitors can make out the red English between the lines on Latin.

Malcolm Pratt, leader of Chester-le-Street District Council, said: "It is important that the town's contribution to our national heritage is recognised and it was pleasing to see the Gospels on display in Newcastle.

"A more permanent remind-er in the region, or Chester-le-Street, would be appropriate."

Does your town or village harbour a historical secret that the rest of the world should know? Is there an ancient artefact in your midst that you assumed everyone else knew about? If so, contact The Northern Echo on (01207) 28061