South Yorkshire has 156 scheduled ancient monuments - 20 of which are at risk from damage from vegetation, erosion and animal burrowing, according to English Heritage.

Eight in Sheffield, six in Barnsley, five in Rotherham and one in Doncaster are under threat, new figures reveal.

The statistic was revealed at the launch of a new register of historic sites including monuments, historic parks, gardens and landscapes, battlefields and even protected wrecks called 'Heritage at Risk'.

It shows 35 per cent of monuments are at high risk of damage, decay or loss while 28 per cent are at medium risk.

The range of threats includes vehicle damage, dumping, vandalism, metal detecting and gardening.

The register has grown out of the old Buildings at Risk list which transformed the approach to conserving old structures when it was launched in 1998.

Maddy Jago, English Heritage regional director for planning and development, said: "Excellent work is being done to protect our heritage, but the study raises some serious causes for concern. We are particularly anxious about the condition of scheduled ancient monuments. When damaged or lost, such sites, often dating back thousands of years, cannot be replaced.

"We believe that no monument which is legally protected in the public interest should be at high risk. Greater co-operation is needed between owners, government and organisations charged with caring for the environment to halt the decay. The government's recent commitment to simplify heritage protection legislation is also a step in the right direction."

Sheffield has a total of 46 scheduled ancient monuments, Doncaster 50, Rotherham 37 and Barnsley 23. One of the buildings at risk is Thorpe Salvin Old Hall, near Rotherham, which occupies a prominent location in the village.

The gatehouse and imposing three-storey south facade are part of a mid-16th century stone mansion, built by Henry Sanford, an ancestor of the Dukes of Leeds.

English Heritage is now working with the owners, who are keen to halt the decay, and is part funding a £15,000 survey. The building, which is also Grade II* listed due to its importance, suffers from crumbling masonry and decaying timber lintels and window mullions.

The number is one less than last year following the removal of Bower Spring Cementation Furnace, Sheffield, a rare 19th century survivor of an early method of producing steel.

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