A village road has been closed after the ground started to crumble.

The lane in Chipstead, near Sevenoaks, has been closed after drivers reported a manhole sinking into the ground.

Homedean Road is currently closed at its junction with the village’s high street.

The two roads meet in a three-way junction with Chevening Road.

A short section of the road has been closed off around the affected stretch of tarmac.

One resident, who asked to remain nameless, said locals feared the problem was worse than it looked on the surface.

“It’s a major manhole cover, and while it might not look much more than broken tarmac right now a number of us are concerned it suggests something is wrong with the drain underneath.

“When cars and especially any heavy vans or trucks drove over it you could see the manhole rock from side to side like it was no longer secured.”

A notice posted by Kent County Council read: “Homedean Road is currently closed at its junction with Chevening Road as a manhole cover is sunken and rocking and the road around it has broken up and is unstable.”