Nearly half of North Yorkshire’s scheduled ancient monuments are also at risk according to the Heritage at Risk report.

They include Duck Bridge near Danby Castle, which is a packhorse bridge over the River Esk.

Situated between the castle and the Moors Centre, Duck Bridge dates back to medieval times and gains its current name from George Duck, who restored it in the 18th Century.

The bridge was rebuilt in 1717 and, according to the English Heritage report, it is vulnerable to damage by traffic and floods.

Although Duck Bridge is by- passed by a modern ford, it is sometimes used by motor vehicles when the river is in flood.

Scheduled monument consent has been granted for some recent repairs to the bridge abutments, the parapet wall and rail but further repairs are also needed to complete the works.

The ruins of the 17th Century brewhouse at Whitby Abbey are also highlighted in the report.

The in-depth study by English Heritage, found that North Yorkshire has the highest number of scheduled monuments in Yorkshire and the Humber – 1,740 – of which 45% are at high or medium risk of loss or damage.

They have compiled a Domesday Book of the threatened parts of cities, towns and countryside across England and are asking local people to get involved to try and protect the sites.

Heritage at Risk is a new programme and aims to identify the parts of the nation’s historic environment that are endangered and to get something done about them.

The list also includes battlefields, monuments and shipwrecks on its heritage at risk register.