WORKMEN have discovered an 18th century mine shaft on the site of a new school development.

The Prosperous Pit mine shaft had remained undiscovered during initial survey work on the new Ravensworth Terrace Primary School in Birtley, near Chester-le-Street.

It has now been found by engineers during work to prepare the site for the new school build.

Gateshead Council said the shaft is not in the immediate vicinity of the proposed school building.

To ensure the safety of the site and the future development of the school, work will now begin to install a reinforced concrete cap to cover the shaft to make it safe for future generations using the site.

An application for a permit has been submitted to the Coal Authority, who are responsible for managing legacy mine workings.

Peter Udall, Gateshead Council’s service director for design and technical services said: “The safety of the pupils at the school and the workers on site was always our main concern, building work would not have continued if we felt the site was not safe.

“With the North-East’s rich mining heritage, finding former mine workings are common place and are something we deal with all the time.

“Early mine working plans showed that the site did house a former mineshaft and now that we have found it we will put remedial action in place to make sure that the site is safe.

“There was never any risk to the safety of any pupil attending the new school.”

Gateshead Council has said the work to cap the former mine shaft will begin as soon as possible.