The Hadrian's Wall World Heritage Site has received a £537,185 funding boost from the SITA Trust for a conservation project to restore parts of the historic structure that have fallen into disrepair.

Areas in the central section of the Wall have had to be placed on the Heritage at Risk register due to their current condition.

"This is fantastic news for Hadrian's Wall and we are very grateful to SITA Trust for recognising the importance of this project for the future of the World Heritage Site,” says Chief executive, Linda Tuttiett.

"Access to the Wall will be improved at several other locations and new signage and interpretation will be put in place to help to attract more visitors to the Roman frontier."

After detailed surveys in May specialist stone masons will begin the conservation work on the Wall. The full project is set to be completed by August 2013.

"We hope that this significant grant will encourage other funders to come forward to support Hadrian's Wall, ultimately removing all sections from the Heritage at Risk register," says Marek Gordon, the chair of the Trust.