HERITAGE experts have issued a plea about Worcester's crumbling history - with serious concerns over key sites from the city's past voiced in an official 'at risk' register.

The city's famed medieval City Walls, the Lowesmoor Conservation Area and even part of Worcester Cathedral have come under criticism for their "poor" condition.

Historic England has now warned that Worcestershire needs to up its game, saying even beyond Worcester too many key county landmarks are in a torrid state of repair.

Calls were growing last night for more to be done over improving the upkeep of Worcestershire's most treasured sites, with Worcester Civic Society calling the current situation "appalling".

Across Worcestershire there are 49 sites on Historic England's official 'at risk' register, a national list of important assets deemed at risk of being lost due to neglect or decay.

In a damning verdict it described Worcester's iconic City Walls as "poor", saying "damaging" plant growth is harming them.

Elsewhere, the Lowesmoor Conservation Area attracts severe criticism and is labelled as "very bad" by the experts, with its array of buildings in a poor state.

St Helen's Church in Fish Street, which is Grade II listed, is also described as "very bad" while at Worcester Cathedral, the condition of the historic Edgar Tower, built between 1300 and 1335, is also called "poor".

The findings have alarmed city leaders, who are laying some of the blame on Government cuts.

Cllr Roger Berry, cabinet member for history and heritage at Worcester City Council, said: "We take Historic England's comments very seriously but the difficulty for us is that with local authorities squeezed for funding, we rely increasingly on grants from conservation bodies.

"But I think they recognise the work being done in Worcester, we hold quarterly meetings with them and have developed a good relationship.

"We are picking issues like this up, we've just launched an appraisal of Lowesmoor's Conservation Area."

Phil Douce, from Worcester Civic Society, said: "The state of our historic assets and those at risk are absolutely appalling.

"I know there are funding restraints, but we are very concerned."

A spokesman for Worcester Cathedral said extensive restoration work is ongoing at Edgar Tower, a Grade I listed block which dates back to the 1200s as one of the city's oldest structures.

It needs to raise £250,000 to fully complete three phases of work, with fundraising efforts like 'sponsor a stone' being launched.

Eckington Bridge, a framed townhouse at 31 Droitwich High Street, the remains of Evesham Abbey, Tenbury Conservation Area and five Malvern churches are among other notable 'at risk' sites.

Elsewhere, Stourport's Gilgal Conservation Area is described as being in a "very bad" condition with Historic England saying it is "deteriorating significantly".

A spokesman for Historic England said the list aims to names sites at risk of being lost due to "neglect, decay or inappropriate development".