MYSTERY surrounds the source of a loud bang which was heard across parts of Bury.

At around 8am on Wednesday, residents in Unsworth, Whitefield and Prestwich were woken by the sound of a massive explosion.

Having received a number of calls from concerned homeowners in Prestwich, Worsley, Eccles and Swinton, the fire service and police helicopter carried out a large scale search of the area for the source of the blast.

Ian Bailey, a spokesman for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, said: "We are mystified as to what caused this noise."

One of the theories for the loud bang is the collapse of an old underground mine shaft in the Worsley area.