Once upon a time in a galaxy far, far away... heroic young droid R2-D2 looks out across the seas of his home planet of Naboo, perhaps imagining the adventures that lie ahead with Han Solo and Luke Skywalker.

But that Star Wars shoreline looks strangely familiar.

In fact, if you look carefully, you might be able to see Tynemouth priory in the background.

For Naboo read North Tyneside - R2-D2 is taking a stroll, or more of a glide, along Tynemouth beach.

This is the beach millions of Star Wars fans will see when they click on R2-D2 's official internet biography.

Tynemouth joins a glamorous list of Star Wars locations including Caserta Royal Palace near Naples, Tunisia, and Death Valley National Park in California.

The image of the pint-sized droid was superimposed on to the picture by Los Angeles-based Lucas Films, who bought the beach image from photographer Liz King.

They saw Liz's work on an internet site and decided that Tynemouth had the force and would make a perfect stand-in for R2-D2 's home planet.

Liz, 45, was paid around £300 from the film company for the right to use of stock picture taken last year.

She says: "I think they liked the openness of it. They wanted a beach that would not be instantly recognisable to a world-wide audience.

"They wanted a scene that was anonymous. Although we know it is Tynemouth beach, most people will not."

The picture is supposed to show R2-D2 watching a Naboo sunset, but in reality it is Tynemouth at dawn and was taken last winter at about 8am.

It will be seen by millions of Star Wars keen to find out more about their robotic hero and the peaceful world he comes from.

Liz, who lives in Whitley Bay, adds: "I think the exposure is good for the North-East. It shows we have stunning beaches which is yet another string to our bow.

"But I don't think all that sand would be good for R2, especially not for his ball-bearings."

Liz is an award-winning commercial photographer whose work is being displayed in two national exhibitions.

She recently scooped an award from the British Institute of Professional Photography for a picture called Reflections on the Tyne featuring the Gateshead Millennium Bridge.

She adds: "2003 has been my best year yet.

"My images have been on display in California, Texas and Moscow."

It is not the first time the North-East's beaches have attracted interest from Hollywood.

Go up the coast to Bamburgh in Northumberland and you can see the stretch of sand that was featured in El Cid starring Charlton Heston and Sophia Loren.

Head south to County Durham's Dawdon Beach and visit the stands doubled as a desolate planet surface seen during the opening moments of scary blockbuster Alien 3.

And the brutal climax of classic gangster movie Get Carter took place on the black scree at Blackhall beach, County Durham.