AN "AT risk" IRON age hilltop settlement near Hereford has been given a lifeline by Historic England.

Sutton Walls Conservation Group has been handed a £12,660 grant by the organisation to help save the settlement, which for 12 years as been assessed by Historic England as ‘at risk’ due to its chequered history as a landfill site and the lack of sustainable habitat management which is affecting the significance of the scheduled monument.

Sitting quietly atop the hill between Marden and Sutton St Nicholas just four miles north of Hereford, the walls are one of the most famous iron age hill forts in Britain, the conservation group, set up in 2017, said.

The heritage at risk grant of £12,660 from Historic England has enabled the group to commission surveys to help detail the conservation management planned for the monument.

Chair Anna Toon said the grant had funded surveys to help detail the conservation management planned for the monument

She added: "Sutton Walls Conservation Group is very grateful for the support of local landowners who are enabling this grant from Historic England to generate information and excitement around the first phase in this community conservation project."