Two trapped miners rescued from Yorkshire mine - report

It is understood that two miners trapped in Kellingley colliery in North Yorkshire, have been freed.

UK Coal evacuated 218 workers from the mine last year after methane gas seeped into the area and ignited.

Ian Cameron, 46, died at the colliery after an equipment failure in October 2009.

At the time, UK Coal received summonses from the Health and Safety Executive relating to four deaths in separate incidents at its collieries.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said it was responding this evening to a collapse in the mine.

A specialist hazardous area response team, trained specifically to work underground, was in attendance, the ambulance service said.

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance had been sent, as well as a rapid response team and two doctors.

“We are working closely with the other emergency services,” a spokeswoman said.

The colliery is the largest remaining deep mine in Yorkshire.

Its two main shafts are almost 800 meters deep. Only one of the shafts is used by miners, the other is used to transport coal.

It supplies local power stations and produces some household coal.

The drama followed the tragedy in south Wales earlier this month when four men died following the flooding of the Gleision Colliery in Cilybebyll, Pontardawe.