Cars swallowed by sinkhole leaves street shocked

A sinkhole has appeared on a street, causing damage to several vehicles.

A portion of Broughton Road in South Shields collapsed before 05:30 GMT, Northumbria Police said.

Emergency services were called to the scene. No-one was reported to have been injured.

South Tyneside Council said it was a "localised incident" and there had been some disruption to power and water supplies.

The street has been closed to vehicles and pedestrians.

Earlier, police said homes had been evacuated as a precaution but the council later said nobody had been moved.

Northumbrian Water said one of its water mains had been damaged and customers in a nearby care home may be experiencing no water.

The water supplier said it had delivered bottled water and was working to restore supplies.

South Tyneside Council leader, Labour's Tracey Dixon, said she had "no idea" what caused the road to collapse.

"Thankfully, the gentleman who's property is above the hole wasn't in," she said.

"We appreciate that some people's vehicles have been affected and there has been some disruption to power and water supplies.

"We are working to support those affected."

Resident Lucy Mouter said she woke up to see three cars in a row in the ground, one of them her boyfriend's.

"When I came downstairs, the police were already outside," she said.

"As a couple of hours passed, [the cars] went further in and they have just pulled them out.

"All I heard were car alarms going off, I wasn't expecting that."

An investigation into what caused the sinkhole is under way.

Dixon added: "We are working to support those affected.

"There is minimal impact to the wider community aside and those affected will be updated as things develop."

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