Residents, drivers and passers-by were shocked when an enormous sinkhole opened up in the middle of a road today.

The hole appeared in the middle of Heywood Road in Prestwich, having first been reported by residents early on Monday afternoon.

Traffic was brought to a standstill and passers-by stopped, shocked and amazed by the sheer size of it and its sudden emergence.

One resident said: “This has happened quite a few times, further up.

"Neighbours are sick and fed up with it. 

Bury Times: Residents were shockedResidents were shocked (Image: Newsquest)

“Even though it’s a residential area, this is like a main road. Cars drive too fast and the council are doing nothing to slow traffic down.” 

They added: “I heard when this started going because I could heard the undersides of cars being hit. 

“I phoned Bury Council and the police and put some bins around it.

"It was when I went back to take a picture that I saw the bins sinking.

Bury Times: Engineers have been called outEngineers have been called out (Image: Newsquest)

“We had to get people’s attention, so the bins have been put out by residents and someone who works in construction nearby got the tape.” 

A spokesperson from Bury Council said: "We believe this is a collapsed sewer, and United Utilities will be dealing with that.

"The road has been blocked off and diversions put in place via Heys Road and Bury Old Road and vice versa. The duration required for the closure is unknown at the moment." 

Cllr Alan Quinn, cabinet member for the environment, climate change and operations on Bury Council who also represents the Prestwich area, says that he and his team are aware of the situation.

He said: “We phoned United Utilities, we believe it to be their issue, they will come down.

“Council engineers were on it straight away. Barriers are up.

“The only problem is Prestwich is built on sand, so if there is a leak the water can wash the sand away and lead to collapse.

“We have had a few in the area, the last one was at the junction.

“We have just had this superstorm and United Utilities are stretched because of global warming.

“We need the Government to provide more funding.”

A United Utilities Spokesperson said: “A sinkhole has been reported to us on Heywood Road in Prestwich and our engineers will be attending to investigate.”