Britain's biggest conservation watchdog has put eight crumbling heritage jewels across the Bradford district on its register of listed buildings most at risk.

Five buildings in Calderdale are also on the list of shame as historic treasures have fallen into disrepair.

But Bradford Council conservation chief Steve Bateman warned buildings on the register only represent the tip of the iceberg-sized nat-ional problem.

The authority is already stepping up its efforts to save precious relics of the district's past for future generations, he added.

Mr Bateman, the Council's heritage manager, said the authority has a rich legacy of 5,800 listed buildings, many in the 56 conservation areas within its boundaries.

The finest is City Hall which has a Grade One Star listing as one of Britain's best historic buildings.

But Mr Bateman said the Council is already working hard on many other problems. He said two officers are now carrying out a survey of all listed buildings and what work is required on them.

"Some are unoccupied and we need to challenge owners to at least repair them," he said.

Mr Bateman said the city centre is surrounded by a number of fire-ravaged buildings which need to be tackled.

"We can serve urgent repair notices and acquire properties by compulsory-purchase orders, but we need partners to help us take them on," he said.

Dr Simon Thurley, chief executive of English Heritage, which oversees the list, said: "This year 114 buildings were removed from the national register, but another 94 have been added.

"These buildings are both our heritage and our future.

"Repairing and finding new uses for historic buildings in the heart of our community creates local identity and safeguards jobs and housing, boosts local economies and tourism, improves quality of life, and protects green-field sites from the need for new development."

Now listed on the register along with City Hall are:

l Leventhorpe Hall

l Lower Grange, a 17th century privately owned house in poor condition

l Myddleton Lodge, Ilkley, a 15th century Chapel in fair condition

l an occupied late 18th century cotton mill in Low Mill Lane, Keighley, in a fair state of repair

l part-occupied Waterloo Mill in Howden Road, Silsden, in poor condition

l the courtyard entrance and walling at Upper Headley Hall, Thornton, also in poor condition.

Upper Headley Hall and a barn at the hall which are occupied, privately owned and in need of repair are on the register, but have been offered grants by English Heritage.

The register includes five properties at Kirklees Park, Brighouse.

They are a barn near Kirklees Priory gatehouse, a farm building at Kirklees Park, Kirklees Priory gatehouse, an L-shaped early-16th century barn, and the Grade One Malthouse which dates from the late 17th century.