HERITAGE chiefs have given York's major historic buildings a clean bill of health - declaring it a "major achievement".

It is the first time in many years that buildings in the city have not been included on English Heritage's Buildings At Risk Register, which logs those in urgent need of repair.

But historic buildings and monuments at Castle Howard and elsewhere in North Yorkshire are still crumbling, the latest report has revealed.

John Hinchliffe, an English Heritage director, said York was an example to the rest of the county on how to breathe new life into crumbling buildings.

Those taken off the register since 1999 include the Arts Centre in Micklegate, which is being transformed into a caf and St Margaret's Church, off Walmgate, which was successfully converted into The National Centre for Early Music.

Mr Hinchcliffe said: "The good news is that nearly half the buildings that were on the 1999 register have been secured for the future, including all the York ones."

Castle Howard has five entries on the list. The report found crumbling walls and a collapsed tower on The Stray, the home's Mausoleum and bastion wall badly decayed, along with stone pyramids. Limestone piers at the estate's walled gardens were also found to be decayed.

Other entries on the register include Sheriff Hutton Castle, because it was found to be vulnerable to weathering, and York House in Malton because of damp problems.

Duncan Peake, Castle Howard's estate manager, said: "There are around 150 listed buildings and structures on the Castle Howard Estate.

"The building restoration programme began over 50 years ago and it continues with even greater passion and enthusiasm today."

Heritage chiefs estimate it would cost a total of £30 million to correct all the problems it identifies across Yorkshire.

Updated: 09:58 Saturday, July 09, 2005