Thames path collapses into river near Kew Gardens

A large hole in the path appeared as a section slid into the water

A section of River Thames towpath near Kew Gardens in west London has collapsed into the water, leaving an impassable hole at the popular walking route.

Images taken shortly after the incident at Syon Reach on Saturday show a hole several metres wide, with water rushing through, leaving walkers and joggers stranded either side.

An eyewitness told the BBC people ran from the hole in panic as a "monstrous" gap appeared in the path.

The area on the south embankment between Kew Gardens and Richmond Lock - near the Old Deer Park and Mid-Surrey Golf Club - was cordoned off and engineers have been on site, Richmond Council said.

'Pouring with rain'

Ed Baker, who regularly runs along the section of towpath, told the BBC he was jogging nearby as the path collapsed.

"There were dog-walkers running back towards us in a panic, saying the path had collapsed.

"We thought maybe we could jump over it, so we went to have a look and the hole in the path was enormous, it was monstrous... way bigger than I could have imagined or envisaged.

"It was pouring with rain and it was really heavy water bashing it."

Keen runner Ed Baker uses the path to train

Mr Baker said he estimated the hole to be about four metres wide and four metres deep.

"There was a huge gap, very large, and the water was really rushing through it.

"It was completely impassable."

He fears the popular walking and cycling route will be inaccessible for weeks or months.

"Thousands of people will be walking, running, or walking their dog up that path.

"I don’t see this being fixed any time soon. They’ll have to get a structural team down there because it needs reinforcing.

"That whole stretch of the towpath will be gone till it’s fixed."

'Proceed with caution'

Richmond Council said the incident was reported on Saturday afternoon and engineers had begun working at the site.

Bollards have been erected either side of the hole along with signs asking people to make diversions.

A timeline for repairs would be discussed in the coming days, the council added.

The Port of London Authority (PLA), which manages the stretch of the water, issued an alert to river traffic to "proceed with caution along this section of the river".

"Although some debris may have encroached into the channel, the river remains navigable," a PLA spokesperson said.