DISUSED mineshafts under roads and pavements in Horrabridge may need to be capped, an investigation in the village has revealed.

Bob Tremlett, maintenance engineer for Devon County Council local services group, said full and partial road closures had been necessary to investigate two shafts in Pencrebar Road and one in Copperfields. But he stressed there was no need for residents to worry.

'As far as we know we have located all the shafts that exist beneath the roads and pavements and they are being dealt with.'

Investigating geologist Richard Gould, of Tavistock firm Fred Sherrell, said the shafts were part of the Wheal Franco copper mine — a 19th century mine which operated in Horrabridge from 1823 to 1873.

Mr Gould said once investigations were complete they could decide what needed to be done.

'The normal way would be to cap the shafts, which I imagine would be done fairly soon. But we can't design a solution until we know what the shaft condition and size is.'

The chairman of Horrabridge Parish Council, Cllr David Cloke, welcomed the investigation being carried out by Devon County Council.

'If mineshafts can be identified and capped if they need to be, they can be made safe for all the residents,' he said.

'We are being kept well informed on the current situation as the investigation is ongoing.'

Cllr Cloke added that the work was causing only minimal disruption to villagers.

He stressed that the geological investigation was concentrated underneath roads and pavements in Pencrebar Road and Copperfields, and there was no indication that individual properties were affected.