The annual ‘at-risk’ survey by English Heritage has found 7,500 listed buildings or sites deemed to be imperilled by neglect or decay – a decrease of 131 from the previous year.

The heritage body also announced plans to recruit an ‘army’ of volunteers to help survey England’s 345,000 Grade II-listed buildings and prevent damage being done to buildings every year.

The first surveys are expected to take place in autumn, with volunteers being offered training via English heritage and other organisations.

Meanwhile archaeologists have warned that budget cuts to the heritage sector will leave future generations facing a lost legacy of heritage – abandoned to “short termism” and “financial expediency”.

Rescue: The British Archaeological Trust has warned that years of cutbacks mean Britain is “close to reaching a point at which provision of services designed to safeguard our historic environment is no longer adequate.

It went on to say that “there is no sign of this rate declining with further cuts planned for 2013-14.”

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