Sinkhole prompts road closure on the Mendips
A sinkhole has opened up on the Mendip Hills in Somerset.
The hole is located on the side of the B3134 Burrington Road near Cheddar.
Temporary lights have been put in place by Somerset Council to help drivers avoid the section of road affected.
The road is due to be closed later with a diversion in place.
The road closure was due to begin on Monday 29 April and could continue for between three to five days, the council said.
There would be a sign-posted diversion route and the road closure would stay in place 24 hours per day, it added.
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 British Geological Survey says the formation of sinkholes is often accelerated or triggered by things such as broken drains and water mains.
