HADRIAN'S WALL could be placed on the World Heritage "in danger" list because so many people are walking on it.

About 400,000 people have walked the Hadrian's Wall Path Trail since it was opened 18 months ago, but although people are banned from walking on the actual wall, many still do.

The wall is among 600 locations designated as World Heritage cultural sites by Unesco. Only 29 of the 600 sites are considered to be at risk.

Peter Fowler, an advisor to the UN cultural body, said: "The wall was never built to take 400,000 people. Small numbers of people walked along the top - just the sentry guards."

Jim Crow, senior lecturer in Roman Archaeology at Newcastle University, said the trail was not accompanied by resources to ensure the wall was protected.

Meanwhile, the challenges facing those who manage the world's cultural landscapes is being discussed at an international Unesco meeting at the university this week.

Conference organiser Dr Peter Stone, director of the university's International Centre for Cultural and Heritage Studies, is the new chairman of the Hadrian's Wall World Heritage Site Management Plan Committee.

He said: "The challenge will be to strike a balance between the needs and interests of all of the organisations and individuals involved with Hadrian's Wall."