Sinkhole appears on residential street in Newcastle

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/nov/12/sinkhole-appears-residential-street-newcastle

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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.”

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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.”