A SPRINGER Spaniel has been rescued from a recently collapsed mine shaft close to the Cheesewring Quarry about a mile north of Minions on Bodmin Moor.

The dog had fallen down about 30ft and seemed to be on a ledge.

The dog was recovered muddy but unharmed by the local firefighters who sent three tenders and a car to the scene.

Our pictures show the dog being carried to ­safety.

The village of Minions (previously known as Cheesewring Railway) grew up in the mining boom of the 1850s and is part of the West Devon and Cornwall World Heritage Site.

This shaft collapsed earlier this year and had been fenced around by Duchy contractors.

Following this incident on May 3, a man fell down a shaft while trying to rescue his dog near Kit Hill, Callington, on Saturday.

The owner climbed down to try to rescue the animal but then became stuck about 35ft down the dry shaft,

Firefighters and a paramedic were lowered down to him. He and the dog were pulled out and he was flown to Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, with pelvic injuries. The dog is understood not to have survived its ordeal.