Reading standards in Britain are so poor that English Heritage is rewriting its guides so that 10-year olds can understand them. This follows criticism that the guides are far too sophisticated and alienate adult visitors from more deprived backgrounds.

A spokesman gave an example of the kind of changes that would occur to its standard guide. The following text:

"The Duke of York was victorious at the First Battle of Saint Albans on 22 May 1455 at which Somerset was killed, but he was soon forced to back down and come to terms with the King."

Would be replaced by the new text as follows:

"The Grand old Duke of York he had ten thousand men, he marched them up to the top of the hill and he marched them down again."

The spokesman then went on, "We really feel that this might encourage those from lower socio-economic groups to benefit more from England's Heritage. In addition to this plan we are also considering knocking down some of England's more uninviting and inaccessible buildings and rebuilding them with lego to make them more appealing. We think that this could attract people in droves."

A member of one of the lower socio-economic groups who was asked to comment replied, "Why would I want to go an' see an English 'eritage whatever that is anyway? The kids and the missus are quite 'appy with Alton Towers, thank you very much."