A MOBILE phone application to unearth the strange, unknown and forgotten history of Newcastle has been launched.

The app contains more than 75 weird and wonderful stories of things that have happened in the city over the past 800 years that will entertain visitors and locals alike, showing Newcastle in a completely different light.

Visits to the city promise to be a lot more interesting with the NE1 and Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums app as Hidden Newcastle highlights previously unknown or forgotten stories relating to people and places across the city.

The content brings to life hidden gems about places and characters that have often been overlooked by mainstream history.

The stories run from the 13th century to Mohammed Ali and US President Jimmy Carter’s visits in 1977.

The app aims to provide a unique glimpse of Newcastle’s society through the ages with funny, unusual and macabre tales in an easy to use format.

Window stickers will be posted at sites across Newcastle to illustrate Hidden Newcastle points of interest.

John Coburn, digital co-ordinator at Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums, said: “Hidden Newcastle isn’t like your average city guide and the things you’ll hear about aren’t the types of people and events which are commemorated with a blue plaque on a building.

“These are strange, dark and forgotten stories and characters which we’ve brought back to life.”

Hidden Newcastle is a free app available for iOS and Android, which can be downloaded for free at www.hiddennewcastle.org