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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Antony Thrower

Kids banned from playing outside over fears of sinkholes that keep opening up

Parents living near a number of sinkholes in a village have banned their children from playing outside over fears they may disappear into the ground.

Residents living in the William Mear Gardens and Pilling Park Road areas of Thorpe Hamlet, Norwich, say they are plagued by the holes appearing near their homes.

People who live closest to the affected areas - made up of sand and chalk - say the issue is only going to get worse if essential work is not carried out quickly.

Shirwan Saed, who lives near the area with six-year-old son and one-year-old daughter, said the issues had been ongoing for more than a week.

Several concerned people have threatened to move over the issues (Norwich Evening News / SWNS)

She told Norwich Evening News: “I used to let my children out to play because it's quiet here but now I don't feel it's safe because of the sinkhole here.

I'm worried they might get around the barriers and I don't want to think what might happen if they accidentally fell in.

"This should have been sorted as soon as possible but now there's a real worry more will turn up."

Other neighbours shared concerns their homes and gardens may sink into the ground.

Several others say they are considering leaving their homes because of the ongoing nightmare.

Work continues in the area plagued by sinkholes (Norwich Evening News / SWNS)

It was first reported by a man whose tree vanished into the ground in his garden.

To battle the problem Norwich City Council is said to have erected fences around the sinkholes.

Earlier this month a massive sinkhole opened up in the middle of a busy street on the Isle of Wight, prompting a multi-agency response.

Quay Street, located opposite the Isle of Wight Law Courts, was cordoned off after locals reported the issue.

Work on the underground sinkhole, first noticed on Sunday, is continuing with the road closed.

Several large sinkholes have opened in the neighbourhood (Norwich Evening News / SWNS)

The gaping hole - which is said to be around 12ft deep - appeared nearby to residential properties, shops and opposite the island's law courts.

Photos showing a sense of the scale of the issue were posted online.

Further investigations are expected to be carried out by both Island Roads and SGN, local reports suggest.

They are working to ensure no gas pipes have been compromised.

It comes just weeks after a huge sinkhole suddenly opened up in Scotland, which is believed to have uncovered a long-lost railway line.

The large hole appeared in Dublin Street, Edinburgh, last month, sparking council workers to rush to the scene.

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