A COUPLE whose garden began disappearing into a giant hole believe they may have stumbled on the remains of an historic stately home.

Alyson Lawrence and Alan Wells were felling fruit and fir trees at their home in Waresley Court Road, Hartlebury, when a hole opened up in the ground.

Mrs Lawrence said: "Soil seemed to be going underground. We carried on digging and uncovered what looked like a manhole."

However, after carrying on digging the couple uncovered a subterranean building between 15ft and 18ft long, 12ft deep and 8ft wide lined with concrete. the hole in the Hartlebury garden.

Inside they found "lots and lots of old bottles". Some empty, some filled with liquid and fitted with glass stoppers, dating to at least World War Two. One was marked, Kidderminster Garlic Company. Rebecca Wells, 10, above, with a find from the chamber.

The couple enlisted the help of local historian Chris Yates but he was unable to shed any light on their discovery.

Mrs Lawrence said the couple stumbled on the hole five months ago after moving to the house but thought it was a manhole.

It was not until last weekend they excavated further and discovered the extent of the void, she added.

"We're fairly certain it's not an air raid shelter because the house wasn't built until 1948. However, there was an old manor these houses were built on and we think that might be the answer.

"We're hoping through the Shuttle/Times & News someone might be able to shed some light on this mystery. There's only a narrow entrance to the chamber with a sheer drop, there's no stairs or ladder."

Mrs Lawrence added the only information about the former manor she had was Waresley Court became the home of Lord and Lady Hampton in 1897 and was sold to a builder in 1926 who subsequently demolished it.