Warning as sinkhole appears at Manx beauty spot

Safety barriers will remain in place for the foreseeable future

People walking through a popular beauty spot in the south of the Isle of Man have been urged to take extra care after a sinkhole appeared.

Manx National Heritage (MNH) said the hole in the area known as the Chasms, near Cregneash, was more than 6.5ft (2m) deep and had the "potential to become larger".

The heritage body said safety barriers would remain in place in the area "for the foreseeable future".

The Department of Infrastructure confirmed it was not on the island's coastal footpath but MNH land a short distance from it.

The department said the hole was not on the Raad ny Foillan but was instead in an area "a little way from the path, on the other side of a Manx stone wall".

There were "no issues for those using the coastal footpath" and signs in the area warned of the potential hazards away from the footpath, it added.

A sinkhole is a hole in the ground created by erosion and the drainage of water.

The area at the Chasms, which has footpaths surrounding deep cracks in the area's sandstone formations, is popular with walkers.

MNH said surface level studies would now be undertaken by engineers from Laxey Mines Research Group prior to further investigations and essential works.

"Dog walkers should keep their pets on a lead and children walking on the footpath should be closely supervised at all times," it added.