Life and Thoughts of The One Ocean

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New homeowners could be shafted
08:34 Monday 4th December 2006

A three-bedroom semi-detached house is for sale for just £1,000 - but the new owners could lose it down a mine shaft.

The house is built on top of a thousand-foot deep shaft which threatens to open up at any time, reports The Sun.

Owners Martin and Susan Legg put it up for auction after a survey found the old tin workings under their feet.

The Leggs' Victorian house in Redruth, Cornwall, would normally sell for over £100,000.

Auctioneer Graham Barton said it was very rare for a good property to be put up for sale for such a small price.

He said: "It means the sellers want the house to go quickly. There are certain mining features causing issues in the area. When buying any house in Cornwall you are taking a chance as many areas are riddled with mines and tunnels."

Neighbour, Belinda Donoghue, 38, whose house is also at risk, said: "It's a living nightmare. Every day I come home thinking I'll find a great big hole with our house at the bottom of it."

There are 5,000 shafts around Redruth which have been capped with concrete - but many are still unstable.

posted by The One Ocean @ 12/04/2006 05:22:00 AM