YOU can pass Go and collect Durham Cathedral, with the launch of a County Durham edition of the world-famous board game.

More than 20 landmarks and institutions are included in the game, which is expected to prove popular for Christmas after hitting the shops yesterday.

The spirit, shape and feel of the game is exactly the same as with the original Monopoly – except county sites replace the celebrated London Monopoly streets such as Trafalgar Square and Mayfair.

The property prices are identical too – except there is a new Monopoly international currency called M.

Following a public vote, top square on the board – traditionally reserved for Mayfair - went to Durham Cathedral, priced at M400, with neighbouring Durham Castle taking the Park Lane spot.

The Northern Echo is in at Fleet Street, with attractions such as Raby Castle, near Staindrop, and The Bowes Museum, in Barnard Castle, also included.

The cheapest square, usually given over to Old Kent Road and available for M60, goes to Ankers House Museum, one of the UK’s smallest museums, in Chester-le-Street.

Helping to launch the game at Durham Cathedral was Imogen Bristow, ten, from Barnard Castle, who won a competition in which children were challenged to say, in no more than 25 words, why they love County Durham.

The Very Reverend Michael Sadgrove, the Dean of Durham, said: “We feel privileged to occupy one of the two coveted deep blue spaces.

“I have always enjoyed playing Monopoly – though my wife doesn’t always appreciate my competitiveness. But it’s great to welcome the new County Durham version.”

Since Monopoly was invented in 1935 in the US, the game has spread across the world and is played in 37 languages.

Newcastle, Sunderland and Middlesbrough already have their own versions.

■ The squares on the County Durham board are: Anker House Museum, Chester-le-Street M60; Fowler’s Yard, Durham M60; Chester-le-Street railway station M200; High Force, upper Teesdale M100; Killhope, The North of England Lead Mining Museum, Weardale M100; Durham University’s Botanic Garden, Durham M120; West Auckland FC, winners of the first World Cup M140; Sedgefield Racecourse M140; Durham County Cricket Club’s Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street M160; The Weardale Railway M200; Durham Tourism M180; Durham Indoor Market M180; Dalton Park shopping centre, near Murton M200; Raby Castle, near Staindrop M220; The Northern Echo M220; Durham Heritage Coast M240; Locomotion: The National Railway Museum at Shildon M200; The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle M260; Gala Theatre and Cinema, Durham M280; Netpark, Sedgefield M300; The Market Cross, Barnard Castle M300; Headlam Hall Hotel, near Ingleton M320; Durham railway station M200; Durham Castle M350; Durham Cathedral M400.