Super sinkhole opens up on Surrey street

A huge sinkhole that first appeared on Godstone High Street in Surrey on Monday

A huge sinkhole that appeared on a street in Surrey on Monday is continuing to grow.

The county council have now declared the sinkhole, Godstone High Street, as a major incident.

Families living on the road were evacuated from their homes when the sinkhole first appeared on Monday night, no one has been harmed and everyone is safe.

Since then the sinkhole has grown to least 65ft (20m) long.

The original hole is not the only one, a second sinkhole has now opened up on the other side of the road.

Investigations are currently ongoing to make the area safe and so that utilities and the road can be repaired.

Repairs are expected to take several months.

What is a sinkhole?

Investigations remain ongoing to make the area safe and to repair utilities

A sinkhole is a hole in the ground formed when the land collapses away leaving a big hole on the surface.

It usually happens when the rock underneath is dissolved by water.

Sinkholes form when rainwater comes into contact with a certain type of soft rock - such as chalk or limestone - and dissolves it, leaving a gap deep in the ground.

The land on the surface then collapses into this gap.

Sinkholes are rare which is why their appearance is considered news.