HOLLYWOOD golden couple Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt will be welcomed with open arms if they decide to holiday in North Yorkshire.

Sources close to the actors say they are planning to tour the region later this month.

Friends star Jennifer is planning to join her husband in Britain when he starts work on his latest film Troy, this month.

First stop for the couple is thought to be the Lake District and they are also believed to be planning to visit North Yorkshire.

Les Clarke, tourist information manager in Ryedale, said he would not be surprised if they chose North Yorkshire.

He said: "We welcome everybody, high-profile or low-profile, and it would be nice if they feel they can come here, be anonymous and enjoy the area as much as everybody else does."

Whitby Abbey has enjoyed several famous visitors over the years, including a recent visit by Lord of the Rings actress Liv Tyler.

Custodian Emma Bryan said: "We had Vic Reeves here the other month. I suppose he is not Hollywood, but it was quite nice to see him and we have had quite a lot of stars who have been filming in the area.

"Brad and Jennifer would be made very welcome, but they would be treated like any of our visitors."

The only high-profile visitor 11th Century Richmond Castle has seen in recent years has been the town's MP William Hague, but staff there said they would be delighted to see the Hollywood couple.

Acting head custodian Alwyne Thorpe said: "We would be very happy to see them and show them round and if they would like to come here they would be more than welcome."