THE collapse of a mine shaft in Radcliffe in 1955 left a 300-foot crater in Allens Green.

The 100-year-old air shaft leading down to a disused colliery, collapsed with "a rumbling like thunder and surface tremors like a minor earthquake."

Five families from Sion Street were evacuated by police who feared that the tremors caused by the falling rock and rubble might cause further surface quaking and bring the houses down.

Mrs Elizabeth Sandiford who had been ill in bed for six months managed to be evacuated from her home in Sion Street, and was taken by police car to stay with relatives.

Investigations showed that the air shaft was identified as part of the derelict Allen's Colliery, which closed in 1893.

Mr Sam McIntyre, who owned a small-holding off Allens Green, had his boiler house and part of his pig sty engulfed by the collapse and police helped to remove the frightened animals to safety.

Following the appearance of the crater on Thursday, April 21, a stream of National Coal Board lorries tipped slag into the hole to fill the shaft.

Mrs Eva Hodgson of Sion Street who was not evacuated said that cracks appeared in the walls of her front room during the night.