Hadrian’s Wall – a UK World Heritage Site since 1987 – has become the first part of a major trans-national World Heritage Site known as Frontiers of the Roman Empire.

The Frontiers of the Roman Empire World Heritage Site also includes the Upper German-Raetian Limes, which follow a length of over 550km from the River Rhine in the north-east of Germany to the River Danube in the south east.

The aim of the scheme is to encourage more countries – initially just those in Europe – to add their sections of the Roman Frontier to the new single World Heritage Site, which was created at the annual World Heritage Committee held in Durban, South Africa, between 10 and 17 July.

UK culture minister David Lammy said: “As it develops, the Site will provide the potential to unite the people of many countries in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa in a common shared heritage.”

Sir Neil Cossons, chair of English Heritage, added: “English Heritage is pleased that this development is based on the existing Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site and that the tried and tested method of site management and co-operation developed at Hadrian’s Wall is being used as the basis of this wider initiative.”

The Roman Empire was protected by a network of frontiers stretching for more than 5,000km (3,100 miles)from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Black Sea in the east and from central Scotland in the north to the Sahara Desert in the south.

Remaining boundaries and fortifications survive across this area, in countries including Belgium, Slovakia, Hungary, Turkey, Egypt and Morocco.

Decisions on the selection of new world heritage sites are taken at the annual World Heritage Committees. There are currently 788 such sites. Details: www.culture.gov.uk, www.hadrians-wall.org