Rats living in metre-deep hole in Pulborough road

The 4ft (1.2m) deep hole is on a road that does not have street lights

A deep hole on a road in West Sussex is yet to be fixed after opening up four years ago, according to residents.

People living near the hole in Church Place said they are concerned it could cause a serious injury and claim rats are now living in it.

Andy Tillbrook, chair of the Village Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group, told BBC Radio Sussex that the hole was "a real safety concern".

West Sussex County Council (WSCC) said it was planning to investigate the hole further.

Andy Tillbrook said rats in the hole were a "health risk"

The hole, which is about 4ft (1.2m) deep, is on a road to the station that does not have street lights.

Mr Tillbrook said: "People could fall in. It might be a commuter late at night coming home. It might be a vehicle straying a little bit too close to where the hole is."

He said although plastic barriers separate the hole from the road, they are regularly removed by vandals.

Mr Tillbrook said he had spotted rats in the hole and despite them being “friendly little creatures", they were "a health risk and they need to be got rid of".

A WSCC spokesperson said: “We are currently planning a further investigation to fully determine the cause which will then allow us to programme the repairs we need to undertake to resolve the issue.”

Southern Water said the hole is not caused by its infrastructure.