A long standing ambition to include the Wash and North Norfolk Coast on a leading list of the most prestigious international heritage sites may be about to take a step backwards.

A long standing ambition to include the Wash and North Norfolk Coast on a leading list of the most prestigious international heritage sites may be about to take a step backwards.

The area was first included in 1999 on the World Heritage Site tentative list, but now the government has raised a series of questions in a new consultation process which raise concerns about the exact value of the designation and whether new sites should be nominated.

The consultation will run for 12 weeks until February 25. Log on to www.culture.gov.uk for more information.