Giant hole opens up on busy road in Manchester

Heavy Rain Sweeps Britain For A Second Day

A huge sinkhole has opened up in the middle of a busy road in Manchester.

The hole, on Mancunian Way, is 40ft deep and at least 15ft wide.

The road was closed off on Friday and Manchester Council says it could remain closed over the weekend.

According to Manchester Evening News, the hole is believed to have been caused by a collapsed sewer or a pipe that carries water underground.

Geology specialist Dr Nigel Cassidy, of Keele University, said: "There is soft sediment in there [under the road] and when it gets wet, as we had with this rainfall, the sediment gets weaker.

Speaking to the BBC, he added: "It can wash away sand and you end up with a small cavity opening up, particularly if there is a broken sewer."

Earlier this week, holidaymakers in Devon were treated to a stinky sinkhole spewing snails and seaweed into the air on the beach at Orcombe Point.

The sinkhole is believed to have appeared after part of the beach collapsed. It is more than 6ft wide and could be up to 10ft deep.

Experts have warned that tourists could get covered in human faeces if the collapse hits a sewage pipe.