Shock As Sinkhole Opens Up In Gosforth

A 20ft wide sinkhole has opened up in Gosforth.

The gaping hole, which we've been told is around 50ft deep appeared shortly after 10am in Craster Square in the Coxlodge area.

It appeared next to a row of garages and spans the width of the road.

As a result, a car was left stranded on a driveway with the hole in front of it.

The sinkhole has revealed old mine workings in an area which used to have a number of pits.

Leah O'malley lives a few doors away. The mum of one told Metro Radio "This was really scary, I was more worried about if it would spread. Coming out in the morning and wanting to go to the shops and you see that it's not nice."

A man who also lives on the street said The police knocked on my door about 11.30am and he said 'Don't go out the back - there's a big sinkhole appeared'.

I thought at first 'That's my garage gone' but it's a bit further along from me. There was a lady who was getting her car out the garage and the hole went and so she phoned the police straight away. It's the main pit shaft - it's all pit workings round here. It's really shocking to have it happen.''