The joint monastic site of St Paul's Church, Jarrow, and St Peter's Sunderland, has been selected as the UK's nomination for World Heritage Site status in 2010.

If successful, Wearmouth-Jarrow will become the third such site in North East England, following Hadrian's Wall and Durham Cathedral and
Castle.

During a recent visit to one of South Tyneside's French twin towns, Epinay-sur-Seine, Coun Iain Malcolm, the leader of South Tyneside Council, enlisted support for the bid from its Mayor, Herve Chevreau, who has agreed to give the heritage campaign his full support.

Coun Malcolm said: "Wearmouth-Jarrow has worldwide significance and our political colleagues in Epinay were happy to give their support. The bid has received cross-party support at the highest level, including the Prime Minister, and that high-profile political support is essential if the bid is to succeed.

"The site is one of the most important cultural treasures for the northern region and we are very proud to have it on our doorstep.

"It was home to the Venerable Bede, medieval Europe's greatest scholar and an influential centre of learning – the Oxford and Cambridge of its time.

"Some of the original and rare remains of the 7th century architecture are still standing and, if it achieves World Heritage Site status, this incredible site will receive the worldwide recognition and protection for the future, that it richly deserves."

Both the Bishop of Jarrow, the Rt Rev Mark Bryant, and the Bishop of Durham, the Rt Rev Tom Wright, last week signed the Book of Life at St Paul's Church, Jarrow, as part of the campaign to grant World Heritage Site status to Wearmouth-Jarrow.

People can register their support by clicking on to www.wearmouth-jarrow.org.uk