MORE than 200,000 forgotten historic buildings in Scotland are at risk of disappearing from the landscape forever.

With research revealing the majority of Scotland's traditional pre-1919 buildings are in need of urgent repair, Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop will today launch an initiative to save the nation's crumbling architectural heritage.

Ms Hyslop said: "I can announce that Historic Scotland is to look at the development of a traditional building health-check scheme, which will help owners identify problems, suggest what needs to be done to tackle them, and how they should go about it."

She will unveil the plans for the £150,000 pilot at a ministerial summit in Stirling.