Selby ABBEY has been ranked alongside Egypt's Valley of the Kings and the Great Wall of China as one of the most endangered monuments in the world.
The World Monuments Fund have included the abbey on a watch list of 100 crumbling sites after reports that £4 million of urgent repairs are needed on crumbling external stonework alone.
And an estimated £10 million is needed over the next decade in repairs to the ancient monument.
The Vicar of Selby Abbey, the Rev Keith Jukes, said everyone was thrilled that the abbey's plight was being thrust into the international spotlight.
He said: "We are absolutely delighted at the news, it will put Selby Abbey on the map.
"This is a very prestigious thing for us and we are hoping it will boost our fundraising efforts."
But Mr Jukes pointed out that the abbey was in a desperate state of repair.
Updated: 11:43 Tuesday, October 16, 2001
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