A shipwreck at the Goodwin Sands has been added to a special annual register by a historic sites protection group.

It is one of 15 sites now included on the Heritage at Risk Register for 2021 by the Government's Historic England.

HMS Restoration is a protected structure lying off the notorious shifting sands near Deal and one of many wrecks that have accumulated there over the centuries.

The 1,055-ton British warship was built in 1678 and sank in the Great Storm that struck central and southern England in 1703.

Restoration has been added to the Register this year because a recent geophysical survey revealed that the highly mobile sandbank had almost completely migrated off the wreck.

That exposed the surviving archaeology to an extent not previously seen in years.

The surviving artefacts, including the wooden remains of the hull and several iron cannons , are now exposed.

Historic England says this will result in erosion due to wave action and biological attack from marine creatures.

The organisation is analysing how best to help protect the wreck from further deterioration.

HMS Restoration, with a crew of 386, came from a major warship building programme.

It was one of three naval ships of the roughly the same age that sank on the Goodwin Sands during the storm of November 27, 1703.

The other two were HMS Northumberland and HMS Stirling Castle.

Other South East sites now added to the Heritage at Risk Register include the 17th century Blake's Cottage in Bognor Regis, West Sussex, and the Church of St Thomas and the English Martyrs in Hastings

Emily Gee, regional director for Historic England in London and the South East, said: “The variety of South East places coming off and going onto the Register shows that our region’s heritage sites still need our help and support.

"The Register highlights special places in need, and gives us an opportunity to celebrate those, which we have saved together.”

Heritage Minister Nigel Huddleston said: "Heritage helps us understand our past and bringing old buildings and sites back into public use helps us to level up communities, create growth and protect these important assets for future generations."

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