Almost 50 buildings, monuments and conservation areas in Leicestershire and Rutland are in danger of falling into ruin, a heritage watchdog has warned.

English Heritage experts today launched a campaign to save the county's historic treasures after revealing their latest Heritage at Risk register.

Some 28 buildings and scheduled monuments, including Belgrave House, Scraptoft Hall and Snibston Colliery are featured in the survey.

This year, for the first time, English Heritage has also included conservation areas at risk of neglect, decay or damaging change, listing 17 in Leicestershire and Rutland.

In Leicester, there are six buildings at risk, one less than last year, after the Church of St Mark, in Belgrave Road, was removed.

However, there are seven conservation areas – designated by local councils to protect their unique character and appearance.

Stuart Bailey, chairman of Leicester Civic Society, called it an "appalling" number.

He said: "That's stunningly bad. I was expecting three. There are only 24 conservation areas in the whole city, so that's nearly a third which are at risk.

"This list is just the tip of the iceberg for the buildings, because English Heritage only includes Grade I and II* listed buildings, which make up just 8% of the total.

"The other 92% are Grade II, and there's in excess of 50 of those at risk in Leicester."

Mr Bailey said the only "good news" to come from the report was the removal from the list of the Church of St Mark.

The building, which was rescued thanks to a Buildings at Risk Grant from English Heritage, is now in use as a conference and banqueting hall.

The watchdog is launching its Conservation Areas at Risk campaign to get residents, local groups and councils working together to make improvements "before it is too late".

Dr Anthony Streeten, English Heritage director for the East Midlands, said: "Risk can take many forms. In the East Midlands, conservation areas have been affected by the decline of traditional industries, by local development pressures and by piecemeal degradation of their special character with the loss of original detailing such as windows and doors."

English Heritage said St George's was one of Leicester's conservation areas at risk, with historic buildings in places such as Humberstone Gate becoming vacant and modern alterations detracting from the "architectural quality and historic character of the

However, since 2002, English Heritage and Leicester City Council have worked together to invest more than £250,000 to substantially repair nine historic buildings, including run-down buildings in Humberstone Gate, which will become a bar, flats and office space.

In addition, St George's has been identified as the city's Cultural Quarter by the council, which is working with businesses and owners to put together a strategy for the area.

Buildings and scheduled monuments at risk

County Court, including the remains of Leicester Castle and John O'Gaunt's Cellar, Castle Yard, Leicester

Belgrave House, Church Road, Leicester

Former bank, St Martins, Leicester

St Saviour's Church, St Saviour's Road, Leicester

Magazine Gateway Regimental Museum, The Newarke, Leicester

Abbey ruins, Abbey Park, Leicester

Snibston Colliery, Ashby Road, Coalville

Scraptoft Hall, Church Hill

The Grade-II listed Garendon Park, Garendon

The Temple of Venus, Garendon Park, Ashby Road, Loughborough

The Triumphal Arch, Garendon Park, Ashby Road, Loughborough

Ulverscroft Priory ruins, Priory Lane, Ulverscroft

Roman villa north of Hamilton Grounds Farm, Barkby Thorpe

Withcote Hall, Oakham Road, Withcote

Roman town at High Cross, Claybrooke Parva

Bowl barrow at Misterton

Prehistoric settlement site half a mile south west of South Kilworth

Stables and kennels to Bradgate House, Bradgate Hill, Groby

The Old Hall, Markfield Road, Groby

Remains of chapel in Lindley Park, Higham on the Hill

Squires Monument, north west of Church of St James, Melton Road, Burton Lazars, Burton and Dalby

The Bulwarks (earthworks), Breedon on the Hill

Bowl barrow at Wigston Parva

Crop mark of a bowl barrow at Wigston Parva

Old Hall ruins, Exton Park, Exton, Rutland

Tolethorpe Hall, Little Casterton, Rutland

Oakham Castle walls, Market Place, Oakham

Oakham motte and bailey castle and medieval gardens, Oakham

Conservation Areas at Risk in Leicestershire and Rutland:

All Saints, Leicester; Churchgate, Leicester; High Street, Leicester; Knighton Village, Leicester; Market Place, Leicester; Spinney Hill Park, Leicester; St George's, Leicester; Ratby; Shenton; Stoke Golding; Sutton Cheney; Melton town centre; Asfordby; Bottesford; Croxton Kerrial; Long Clawson; Cavendish Bridge, north west Leicestershire