A residential street has been forced to close after a large “sinkhole” appeared overnight.

Resident Liz Alana said the hole suddenly appeared in the middle of Church Road, in Margate.

She said: “I came home at 3.30pm on Friday and the police were there. Then it was a small hole by the wall but it got bigger.

“Then the one in the road appeared overnight.”

She said workmen were having to locate the owners of cars to move them out the way before they could start work.

Southern Water said it had been called to fix a burst water pipe in that location.

A spokesman for Southern Water said: “A three inch pipe burst and we were called to fix it. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”

A spokesman for Kent County Council said: “The road has been closed for the safety of the public.

“Further investigations are taking place by Southern Water and it is not yet known when the road will reopen.”