ARE you descended from royalty? Do you have a famous great grandmother or a notorious nephew?

Find out by tracing your ancestry online.

Your first stop could be the Public Record Office which preserves the records of central government and the courts of law, and makes them available to all.

Trace back from the 11th century to the present day.

If you draw a blank there get across to the Genealogical Research Agency.

Here you can obtain birth and marriage certificates, or trace parish record entries. Alternatively use their specialised research service.

Or why don't you try posting a message on the Get in Touch section of the thisislancashire site, here you will find people from across the globe keen to trace long-lost family members and past friends.

So if you think you may be heir to a vast fortune, or a member of the landed gentry, you can turn to the web to check out.