As the spouse of a Hartlepudlian, I can report that all my relatives by marriage up there (there's a lot of 'em) think it's a great story and they are quite proud of it. In fact there's a bronze monkey in the Marina collecting money for charity.

I was once on a course with a bunch of Geordies who had moved down to work in the Notts pits (shows you how long ago it was). In the pub at lunchtime, I incautiously mentioned that I was married to somebody from Hartlepool. Instant deafening chorus of "WHO KILLED THE MONKEY?"   

Whether the story is true is doubtful - but no noose is good noose.