Lake walls at risk of collapse at historic Studley Park near Ripon

Plans have been submitted to repair walls in the lake at a World Heritage Site in North Yorkshire which are at risk of collapse.

Work is needed at Studley Royal, a historic water park which sits in the grounds of the Fountain Abbey estate.

Plans have been backed by Historic England, though it said it must be done in an "appropriately sensitive manner".

Site owners National Trust said re-used stone would be used for the repairs to maintain its historic appearance.

The landscaped Georgian water garden has pools, canals and cascades fed from the river Skell.

Its sits alongside the ruins of a 12th Century Fountains Abbey, with the site attracting more than 400,000 visitors a year.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, plans submitted to North Yorkshire County Council said: "Following construction of the scheme the flanking walls will be visually improved compared to present, although it will take time before the works weather in.

"The repair works will also serve to protect the weir and cascade outlet from future erosion damage.

In August, the National Trust revealed £3.5m plans to improve the estate near Ripon, which would improve accessibility and enable the story of the 18th Century garden to be better told.

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