WORK on the demolition of homes on Hunter Street is due to start today. The Coal Board announced it would demolish the houses from June 7 after a mine shaft was discovered underneath the properties. The organisation purchased the seven homes from residents after the abandoned shaft was discovered in 2018 causing the properties to be unsafe. The demolition is expected to take 14 weeks and will be carried out by contractors. Mick Owens, principal project manager of the Coal Authority’s Public Safety and Subsidence team, said: “To keep residents in Workington safe we need to drill and grout a historical mine shaft discovered under homes in Hunter Street.