The Prince of Wales has lamented the decline in traditional craft skills in Britain and called for more to be done to ensure their survival for future generations.

He spoke out as a landmark report warned that dozens of crafts - including piano, fan, broom and parchment making - are dying out.

Others, such as cricket ball making, saw and spade making, gold beating and sieve making, have already disappeared in the face of cheap imports or falling demand.

The threat to Britain’s craft skills has been highlighted in a report warning that many could disappear altogether, unless more is done to highlight their importance to the country’s heritage.

Now Prince Charles has called for a greater “appreciation” of traditional craftsmanship and for more effort to preserve their continued existence.

He said: “Traditional crafts are as much a part of our shared heritage as our wonderful historic landscapes, beautiful buildings, rare breeds of native farm animals and varied museum collections.

“I urgently believe that we must gather more information on the crafts identified so far to ensure that no more treasured skills are lost forever.”

In a foreword to the Heritage Craft Association’s first Red List of Endangered Crafts report, the Prince added: “I very much hope that the Red List will encourage more interest and further research into this prized aspect of our heritage, expanding our shared appreciation of traditional craftsmanship and, of course, placing these crafts on a sustainable footing so that they can continue to bring genuine economic and cultural benefits to our communities for generations to come.”