Huge sinkhole in County Durham could get bigger

A giant sinkhole that opened up on farmland in County Durham could keep growing as heavy rain sweeps Britain.

The 110ft-wide sinkhole opened up above an old lead mine near landowner John Hensby's house in Cowshill, the BBC reports.

Hensby, 71, warned it would grow after his wife Sam discovered the hole while shooting rabbits on Wednesday.

Speaking to The Guardian, John said: "Sam came back and she was looking quite shocked.

"She told me that a hole had appeared and I said I best go and have a look.

"At the time, it was about five metres round. Throughout Thursday night it got bigger and bigger until it was about three times that size on Friday morning.

"It is about 35 metres wide and you can't see the bottom of it."

Mr Hensby told The Northern Echo that he is not worried about his house as it is on stable land, but added that "local farmers have been warned as we don't want any sheep wandering over and getting swallowed up."

Durham Police and Durham County Council were notified and a footpath nearby was closed.

In February, a family in Buckinghamshire were shocked after their car disappeared overnight down a 30ft deep sinkhole which opened up in the driveway of their house.

Firefighters were called to their property in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, where they found the 15ft hole.

The Volkswagen Lupo was at the bottom of the hole, covered in mud.

Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "We get a few calls of this nature, mainly in the south of the county. Historically, holes have appeared in the area due to clay mining."

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