'Evel Knievel' motorcyclist swallowed up by 20ft London sinkhole

A motorcyclist had a narrow escape after he fell into a huge sinkhole which opened up in a road, according to shocked neighbours.

The hole began to open up on Tuesday evening but as residents stood and watched, a motorcyclist came along the road - spotted the hole and tried top jump it like Evel Knievel, the famous American stunt man  – but fell into the 8ft deep void.

According to residents, he climbed out of the hole and told onlookers he needed a taxi before running off.

Mick Stevens, 49, an aerial technician who lives next to the hole, said: "I parked on the road at 9pm and thought 'what the hell is that?'

"There were one or two people standing there looking at something. Then a motorbike came speeding along and tried to jump over the hole. He must have thought he was Evel Knievel or something."

The hole is thought to be eight foot deep, 15ft wide and 20ft long.

Mick added: "He fell into it with this big bike, then got out and started shouting 'I need a taxi, I need a taxi' and then ran off.

"The police and fire brigade were here for hours."

Cliff Stewart, 53, a London cab driver, who lives on the next road along, said: "No one on our street heard anything but my son drove over it 10 minutes before. He was just getting back from the gym and said to me 'Jesus, I've just drove over it'".

Another resident teacher Rian Bond, 44, said: "At around 9pm we heard what we thought was thunder.

"Then my son said there was police tape out the front. The police said we might need to evacuate. When we heard the crash we thought it was someone taking their bins out."

Pictures on social media showed a motorcycle that had fallen into the collapsed ground in Martens Avenue, Bexleyheath lined with 1930s semi-detached houses.

The area was initially taped off by police.

A barrier has now been set up by Thames Water around the site cordoning off the area.

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: "Police were called to Martens Avenue, Bexleyheath, shortly before 9pm to reports of a large sinkhole.

"Officers attended and cordons were put in place. There are no reported injuries."