PLAYWRIGHT Alan Bennett says there is "still a great deal to be done" to preserve the heritage of Craven's towns and villages.

Fifty years after his public appeal to save cottages in Settle from demolition, the Talking Heads writer is helping a heritage charity to celebrate its half-century.

Bennett has written the foreword of a booklet to mark the golden anniversary of North Craven Heritage Trust, of which he was president for many years.

In it, the writer of The History Boys and The Madness of George III highlights many of the successes since 1968 - the year he wrote to the Craven Herald newspaper asking the council to stop its policy of demolishing potentially sound old cottages to make way for insensitive modern development in Settle.

With other like-minded people, Bennett formed the Settle and District Civic Society a few weeks later. The North Craven Heritage Trust is its successor, together with the North Craven Building Preservation Trust and the Museum of North Craven Life, at The Folly in Settle.

Bennett's foreword concludes: "In the fifty years since the Settle Civic Society was founded conservation, while more popular, has not got easier. Our societies still deserve support. Nobody wants a suburban Craven. There is still a great deal to be done."

Successes have included the building trust acquiring and preserving historic properties such as The Folly, an important visitor attraction.

The North Craven Heritage Trust records and promotes the heritage of communities including Settle, Clapham, Burton-in-Lonsdale, Bentham, Thornton-in-Lonsdale and Ingleton. It campaigns for good-quality architecture; hosts talks and visits; and awards grants for the upkeep of old buildings.

The booklet is now on sale at The Folly, in Settle, and the heritage trust is appealing for more members to help with its work. To find out more, visit www.northcraven.heritage.org.uk