DRIVERS have been warned to avoid a busy main road in Prestwich this morning after a hole opened up in the carriageway yesterday afternoon.

It is understood that Bury New Road remains down to one lane in both directions near the M&S Food Hall.

Bury Times:

The hole was reported just before 4pm by Bury Council and drivers have been told to expect heavy congestion.

Lanes were closed  in each direction yesterday afternoon while investigations took place and the area was made safe.

Suzanne McKee, section manager at M&S, said the store was 'open as usual' waiting to see what the impact will be on trade.

She said: "We are still open and trading as normal. This is obviously the first day since it happened, so we're not sure how we will trade.

"We're still open at the moment, it's just a case of making the necessary calls with the council to see how we will be affected."

Ms McKee added that delays had not stopped staff from arriving at work on time.

"Nobody has come in late or anything like that, we've been all right so far, but it's depending on what happens this afternoon , I can imagine there's going to be quite a lot of congestion.

"We are thinking it might affect trade. It's been quite congested around here for a while and people have got used to that but it's taken away another lane.

"But it's business as usual, we're all set up and ready to go."

Ms McKee added she had not been able to see the depth or dimensions of the sinkhole as it has been sealed off.

Councillor Alan Quinn said responsibility for the forming of the hole was yet to be established.

But he added that Prestwich is prone to developing sinkholes as it is built on sand and loam soil and water pipe leaks can 'very quickly' lead to a cavity appearing in the road surface.