Residents mock up 'Arctic' fishing spot at sinkhole

The wooden fishing rod rests on a chair and features a plastic bottle in place of a float

People living next to a sinkhole on their street have mocked it up to look like an Arctic ice hole complete with home-made fishing rod.

The sinkhole appeared on High Street in Ipswich on 13 March, according to residents.

It has had barriers put around it, but residents said they did not know when it would be filled in.

Suffolk County Council, which is responsible for the road, said an initial investigation had taken place and the road would be closed on Friday for drainage work.

Lindsey Ward holds the wood-and-string "fishing rod" over the hole in the road surface

The sinkhole, about two feet (0.7m) wide and of the same depth, is immediately outside Jan Ordowski's front gate. He said he was involved in creating the spoof "fishing permits" sign.

"I might have done a little bit, just for a bit of fun," he said.

"I can offer you some cheap fishing permits, if you like?"

The residents' version apes the holes that anglers drill through ice sheets

Lindsey Ward lives opposite the sinkhole and says her husband made the rod.

She said the hole and barriers were making their lives "quite difficult" when it comes to getting their cars - one of which has a disabled ramp at the back - in and out of their front drive.

"It's over a month [since it appeared] and we're still waiting for it to be fixed," she said.

"The council have told us it's in hand and they've got to do some investigations."

The sinkhole opened up just down the hill from Ipswich Museum, on the edge of the town centre

Rather than featuring bustling shops, High Street has a mix of dental practices, houses and Ipswich Museum.

Although the sinkhole and its barriers block off half the road, Mr Ordowski said traffic only tended to build up during the rush hours and when Ipswich Town were playing at home.

"It's been quite amusing; it's been here a month; personally it doesn't bother me because I don't have a driveway at the front," he said.

A Suffolk County Council spokeswoman said: "An initial investigation has taken place, however the exact cause cannot be determined until the road has been excavated.

"The road will be closed on Friday, 19 April for repairs and installation of a new drainage gully."

The barriers now feature a sign offering "fishing permits"