Nationwide appeal to find 'rich tapestry of UK culture'

Bring out your cheese-rolling, steel drumming or Burns Night suppers - for these are part of the UK's intangible cultural heritage, and could be in line for United Nations recognition.

- Peter Walker Senior political correspondent

Eighteen months after the UK signed up to a UN list of recognised cultural traditions from around the world, ministers have launched a public callout for what should be submitted to the organisation.

The intangible cultural heritage list, curated by Unesco, already cites hundreds of examples of events, crafts, cuisines and other phenomena from the 180-plus nations signed up. It covers anything from the couscous dishes of north Africa to avalanche management techniques in the Alps.

While the list was created under a UN convention in 2003, the UK only ratified this in June last year, and thus far has no items on the register.