Giant sinkhole the size of a car appears on street - and almost swallows postbox

12 September 2023 , 21:01

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The large sinkhole is the size of a car (Image: Andrew Hudson / SWNS)

A huge sinkhole the size of a car opened suddenly in the middle of a London street, and nearly swallowed a nearby postbox.

Residents of Dunvegan Road in Eltham, Greenwich, raised the alarm on Monday when they woke to discover the large gap. For safety, they placed a number of wheelie bins around the danger in case anyone wandered too close.

A spokesperson for Mayday cars, a taxi company located near the sinkhole, told KentLive: “It’s a very huge hole and deep sinkhole. It was a big shock and I am grateful it happened at the time it did because our drivers are parked out there during the day or that’s where our customers wait for their cars. I’m very relieved nobody was hurt.”

Residents cordoned the danger off with wheelie bins, so no one fell afoul of it (Andrew Hudson / SWNS)

Resident Andrew Hudson, shared a photograph of the sinkhole to a local Facebook group, adding: “Next to Mayday Cars cab office, be aware. I feel sorry for anyone who has posted important letters in the post box there because they are not being collected anytime soon."

A spokesman for Greenwich Council confirmed an investigation is under way to fix the problem. He added: “"We were notified of a sinkhole in Dunvegan Road by the London Fire Brigade on Monday, 11 September. Our investigations are ongoing to determine the cause and develop next steps.

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"Until then, the area will remain closed off and reassurance visits will be taking place with neighbouring businesses. The road is expected to be closed for at least a few weeks and diversions will be in place."

Earlier this year the ground gave way to the massive sinkhole, measuring roughly six feet deep and ten feet wide, on Heywood Road in Prestwich, Greater Manchester. Traffic was brought to a standstill following the shocking incident, with a hasty perimeter set up around it by and locals.

Locals who gathered at the chasm vented their anger at the poor quality of the road running past their properties, where most are valued at around £300,000.One said: “This has happened quite a few times, further up. Neighbours are sick and fed up with it. Even though it’s a residential area, this is like a main road. Cars drive too fast and the council are doing nothing to slow traffic down.

“I heard when this started going because I could hear the undersides of cars being hit. I phoned Bury Council and the police and put some bins around it. It was when I went back to take a picture that I saw the bins sinking. We had to get people’s attention, so the bins have been put out by residents and someone who works in construction nearby got the tape.”

James Sweetnam