Dog falls down mineshaft

A dog had a lucky escape after plunging 110ft down a disused Shropshire mineshaft.

Rescuers spent more than seven hours working to free Tess, a two-year-old black terrier, who fell down the mineshaft in Old Grit, Minsterley, yesterday afternoon.

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Shaun Panter, Tess's owner, of Leegomery, Telford, raised the alarm at 2pm and a full-scale rescue operation was launched by the RSPCA, Shropshire Fire Service and the Midlands Cave Rescue Unit.

Mr Panter, 40, today said Tess was a little bewildered by what had happened.

He said: "She was just running chasing rabbits and then fell down the mine. I just felt pretty helpless and useless to be really honest.

"The services were amazing though and really helped us out, they were wonderful and I am so thankful.

"This morning Tess is recuperating by sleeping on the sofa, but she is just fine."

Andy Harris, of the cave rescue team, said: "Poor Tess got stuck down the mineshaft, while walking with her owner."

He added: "I stayed for the duration of the operation and was delighted to see she didn't suffer a scratch."

Guy Williams, Minsterley fire station manager, said: "It was the most heartwarming and uplifting of jobs and gave all organisations a really good feeling. We were so happy when the dog came up unhurt.

"The poor thing had done a 110ft bungee with no rope – I don't know how she managed to escape unscathed."