A CAR-sized sinkhole that opened up in the middle of a town centre road still remains.

The gurgling hole opened up at around 12pm on Thursday in Crouch Lane, Seaford.

Rats could be seen scurrying from the pit which was growing by the minute in front of shocked onlookers.

South East Water, which manages water in Seaford, has repaired the burst water pipe and will be repairing the road next week.

The Argus: Rats emerging from the sinkhole in Seaford. Picture from Nick MeldrumRats emerging from the sinkhole in Seaford. Picture from Nick Meldrum

Charles Healey, regional network manager for South East Water, said: “Repairs to a burst water main in Crouch Lane are now complete and water is gradually returning to around 60 properties in the area.

“As a precaution we are asking that these customers boil their water before drinking while we carry out water quality testing.

“We are now working on back-filling the sink hole and the road reinstatement will take place early next week.

 

“We would like to apologise for the disruption this burst water pipe has caused.”

A large fence has now been put around the now-empty sinkhole.

One passerby told The Argus that the hole is “getting wider really fast”.

He said: “It’s across the entire space of the road, it’s quite a narrow road."

Nick Meldrum, who captured footage of the hole widening, said he saw “lots of rats evacuating” from the “massive” sinkhole.

Another person said it was “a bit frightening for residents”.

Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate James MacCleary said “our road and sewage infrastructure is literally collapsing around us”.

He has asked for East Sussex County Council to confirm it was addressing the sinkhole urgently.

The Argus: The sinkhole grew by the minute. Pictures by Nick MeldrumThe sinkhole grew by the minute. Pictures by Nick Meldrum

An East Sussex County Council spokeswoman said: “We were alerted to a sink hole on Crouch Road in Seaford yesterday afternoon and East Sussex Highways and South East Water attended the scene.

“South East Water are now carrying out the required repairs to their infrastructure and the highway.”

Firefighters from Newhaven and officers from Sussex Police were in attendance.