Tapping raises hopes for miners

Faint tapping from 300ft underground has raised hopes that nine Pennsylvania coal miners may still be alive after they became trapped in a flooded shaft.

The tapping created "a glimmer of hope" that the miners, who were trapped at the Quecreek Mine, are safe.

Betsy Mallison, a spokeswoman for the US state's Department of Environmental Protection, said: "It is a race against time because the water is still filling the mine.

"We don't want to raise expectations at this time, but it's a good sign."

Rescue workers at the mine, about 55 miles from Pittsburgh, heard the tapping around 0800 BST after drilling a six inch wide air hole.