31 August 2010 Last updated at 10:32 ET

'Mine shaft' opens under toddler in Derbyshire garden

The boy's family lives in the village of Newhall

A two-year-old boy fell into an eight-foot (2.4m) deep hole which suddenly opened up in the garden of his family's south Derbyshire home.

At 0945 BST, fire crews went to Newhall near Swadlincote to free the boy's father, who got trapped after jumping in to rescue his son. Both were unhurt.

The brigade said the hole, thought to be an old mine shaft, was about six-feet (1.8m) wide.

The Coal Authority has been informed and is now dealing with the incident.

Fire crews used a ladder to rescue the man and both he and his son were checked over by ambulance service staff.

The Coal Authority sent mine rescue staff and a fencing crew to make the area safe.

Swadlincote is a former coal mining town and past industries there include brick-making and the manufacture of clay products.