A 20ft sinkhole has opened on a residential street in Newcastle upon Tyne.
Police were called to Craster Square in Coxlodge, Gosforth, and placed a cordon around the area. Nobody has been injured but residents spoke of their shock at the incident.
Leah O’Malley, 20, said: “When I came out of my flat this morning, the ground was fine but there was a lady here who was worried about the state of the ground. I went back inside and came back out later to find that the huge hole had appeared. I was absolutely shocked.
“A fire engine and police officers turned up and this lady was shaking. She said she was worried about falling into the sinkhole and it was a shock to find the ground collapsed. We are all wondering why this has happened.”
There is no access to Craster Square due to the sinkhole, which has revealed old mine workings.
John Smith, who has lived in the area for 15 years, said: “My garage was within the cordoned-off area. At around 11.30am this morning the police knocked on my door and asked me about my garage and then they informed me that a big sinkhole had appeared in the ground.
“It happened very suddenly, I didn’t actually hear any rumbles or noise. I don’t have access to my garage but my car is out in the front so I am not worried.
“We have always known that there were pit yards here and there was a cobbled dome, which is like a cap on top of a pit shaft, exactly where the sinkhole is.”
