I do not think a single image taken from the road along with a technical description is really going to make a lot of difference

Nigel Clubb English Heritage

But many owners of listed buildings say the website, entitled Images of England, would act as an open invitation to burglars who could specifically target their properties.

English Heritage has said many of the images are already available in public libraries and security features to be included on the website would prevent criminal activity.

'False addresses'

It has offered to delay publication of the photographs for 10 years to allow homeowners time to get used to the idea.

But David Thursby from the Country Landowners Association is concerned about the security implications.

He said: "At the moment there is some form of restricted access for people who have to register their address and where they come from but in our view there is plenty of scope for false addresses.

"And obviously we are concerned about burglars and burglars identifying houses that might be worth burgling."

Spokesman for English Heritage, Nigel Clubb, said: "A lot of this is perception so far as the internet is concerned.

"There is already a large amount of information out there and I do not think a single image taken from the road along with a technical description is really going to make a lot of difference to that."