LOCAL authorities across the UK must be warned that their houses could be at risk from the collapse of disused limestone mines, an independent report into subsidence in Edinburgh that left 200 familes homeless warned yesterday.

The three-man inquiry team, headed by Paul Cullen QC, yesterday cleared council leaders of any blame following the collapse of the former mine workings under homes in Gilmerton in 2000 and last year.

However, the investigation team, which also included Robert Main, former head of building control at Aberdeen Council, and Professor Brian Mann, an expert in rock mechanics and mining from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, said the incident highlighted the dramatic differences in practice between coal and limestone mining.

They called for other local authorities to be informed of the findings to prevent a similar occurrence.

Councils in Bath and Dudley which have identified former limestone workings in their area have already been in touch with the council to discuss and benefit from the information that has emerged.

The year-long inquiry found that consultants emphasised the decisions made by officials and councillors to build on the site had been reasonably made on the technological information available at the time.

Following subsidence at Hyvot's Bank primary school in 1978, which resulted in its demolition, the council had been fully aware of the abandoned limestone workings and of the need to take ''special precautions'' before building.

The team held that all ''reasonable precautions'' had since been taken as a result.

Reflecting on the publication of the findings, Mark Turley, director of housing with Edinburgh Council, said: ''The inquiry has concluded that, at the time these homes were built, engineers did not understand the potentially dramatic nature of collapsing limestone mine workings and tended to provide for the better understood nature of coal-mining subsidence.

''It would have been unreasonable to have expected the council or its contractors to have a better understanding of that technical issue than engineers generally.''

Welcoming the findings, Sheila Gilmore, executive member for housing with the council, said: ''Given the seriousness of the situation in Gilmerton, the council felt it was imperative for reasons of transparency and accountability that an independent inquiry be established.''

She said proposals to compensate owner-occupiers whose homes were affected were still to be examined.

''We are looking at whether we should assist home owners by paying a disturbance allowance to pay the excess needed to cover some insurance policies. Fortunately, all home owners were insured. Tenants were given a high-priority status for rehousing and also received a couple of thousand pounds in disturbance allowance and a home loss payment.''

The situation developed in November 2000 when large cracks appeared in a row of bungalows in the Ferniehill area of Gilmerton on the south side of Edinburgh. No-one was injured, but residents were evacuated and 33 properties were initially demolished.

Consultants Arup Scotland, engaged to assess the situation, quickly established that long-abandoned underground limestone mines were responsible. Their surveys prompted the evacuation and demolition of 189 households.

Other streets around the former quarry were identified as being at risk, prompting the council and Barratt, which was building new homes nearby, to fill in potentially risky voids with grout to provide additional support to the land.