Although the two are only separated by the letter "e", Althorpe - the north Lincolnshire village - is 140 miles from Althorp House - the Northamptonshire family seat of the Spencers where Diana's brother, Earl Spencer - has erected a memorial and museum to her.

Tourists from across the UK and abroad have been confused by the fact that Althorpe is the only village in the country with that name.

Althorp House, meanwhile, is near the village of Great Brington, outside Northampton.

But Althorpe village has enjoyed an unexpected boost in its tourist trade as a result of the mistake.

'Gobsmacked'

Yvonne Sleight, who runs a hotel in the village, said that lost travellers looking for Diana's burial site had been turning up since the Princess's death last year. Since Earl Spencer opened Althorp House to the public, numbers have increased. Ms Sleight said the unintentional visitors to Althorpe "are usually quite intelligent people but I don't think they have researched their trip very well.