A Workington historic site is at risk of being forgotten- warned a Cumbrian historian.

Friars Well, which is opposite Workington police station, has been identified by Alan Cleaver as an endangered site.

He wants to create an at-risk register for Cumbrian heritage sites and he is due to propose the idea at Borderlines Book Festival in Carlisle on Sunday.

Mr Cleaver, 58, of Church Street, Whitehaven, said: "The state of the historic Friars Well at Workington is shameful. But sadly not unique. It is a dumping ground for rubbish and certainly not something you'd want visitors or tourists to see.

"I fear it's a sign of things to come for many other features of Workington's heritage unless attitudes change. And it's a pity because it could be a wonderful feature attracting tourists and revenue for the town."

According to legend, the body of a murdered Friar was once dumped in the well - hence its name.

Mr Cleaver, who has written books on Cumbrian folklore, said: "The original spring supplying fresh water could easily date back hundreds of years since such springs are a natural geological feature. It was apparently used by the people of Workington as a supply of fresh water until the first waterworks were built in the 1850s.

"The structure surrounding the well will be more recent, probably late 19th century."

On his at-risk register, Mr Cleaver also wants to add Billy Watson's Lonning in Harrington and Grasmere's Nab Well.

Billy Watson's Lonning is a footpath leading from Lime Road to Grayson Green. It was celebrated in a dialect ballad written in 1874 as being one of the most romantic spots in the county. But Mr Cleaver fears that lack of maintenance and encroaching housing developments could see this too being ruined.

"Ironically," he said "One reason for the neglect is the lonning is simply not being walked enough by people. This means the nettles and grass obliterate the footpath.

"Nab Well at Grasmere lies almost forgotten next to the corpse road at Grasmere and it is in danger of being trampled by tourists unaware of its history."

Mr Cleaver will talk about cumbrian folklore at the literary festival in Carlisle this weekend.

He said: "I will be talking about some of the county's lesser known legends but also making the point that our heritage can be used to woo tourists from Keswick and Windemere to the likes of Carlisle and Workington. Our holy wells, lonnings and other ancient sites could be features to rival the likes of Ashness Bridge, Hill Top Farm and Castlerigg stone circle."