A sinkhole which has appeared in a street on the Vinters Park estate in Maidstone is believed to have been caused by a collapsed drain.

The hole in the carriageway just at the entry to Bonnington Road off Hampton Road, first appeared about 10 days ago. It is now around two metres deep.

The area has been fenced off, while the problem is investigated by highways and drainage engineers.

The hole is around 50 yards from the nearest house and is not thought to present any threat to people's homes.

County Councillor Ian Chittenden (Lib Dem) who represents the area said: "There is a grassed area nearby that contains a soakaway, which is known to have sunk and required repair at least three times over the years, and this hole may well be connected to that.

"It looks as if the soakaway that has probably been in place for 50 years has moved allowing water to seep through the joints of the concrete rings affecting the ground stability.

"The drainage team will be checking it again this week to see what material will be needed to repair it."

"It could involve a major excavation and replacement and programming for the work will depend on the availability of material."

He added: "It is known that there is Fullers earth in the area, which is the reason why the community centre and some of the houses were piled into the ground when they were built."

Fullers earth is a kind of clay, previously mined for use in the paper-making industry.

This sinkhole is just one of a number that have appeared across the borough in recent months, with the Barming area around Hermitage Lane being the hardest hit, including one sinkhole that appeared outside Maidstone Hospital's newly built assessment centre in April.

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