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Wiltshire road resembles earthquake site due to mystery underground movements

Watch: Wiltshire road resembles earthquake damage due to explained underground movements

A ripped up road could cost millions of pounds to repair after mysterious underground movements left it so warped it looks like it has been hit by an earthquake.

A section of the B4069 near Lyneham in Wiltshire is so badly damaged in some places that the tarmac has completely snapped or is at a 45 degree angle.

Wiltshire Council say the road has been closed since 17 February. However, local police say some drivers are still trying to use it.

The earthquake-like damage has been caused by unexplained underground movements which are now the subject of an environmental investigation.

The road looks as if it's been 'torn up by an earthquake' according to locals (SWNS)
The road looks as if it's been 'torn up by an earthquake'. (SWNS)
Wiltshire council say the road has been closed since 17 February but some drivers are still attempting to use it according to police (SWNS)
Wiltshire council say the road has been closed since 17 February, but some drivers are still attempting to use it according to police. (SWNS)

Local residents say the subsidence has been getting increasingly worse over the last year and a landslip was inevitable.

Wiltshire Council said it is now waiting for a report from geotechnical specialists before taking further action.

Dr Mark McClelland, Wiltshire Council cabinet member for transport, told BBC Radio Wiltshire: "It could costs hundreds of thousands or up into the millions [to fix].

"There is significant damage to the road. It could be up to 12 months in total. It's not something that can be resolved in a matter of days or weeks."

Some parts of the road are so badly damaged that the tarmac has completely snapped (SWNS)
Some parts of the road are so badly damaged that the tarmac has completely snapped. (SWNS)
The B4069 near Lyneham which has been severely damaged by mysterious underground movements (SWNS)
The B4069 near Lyneham which has been severely damaged by mysterious underground movements. (SWNS)

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The 'earthquake-like damage seems to have come from unexplained movements underground that will now be investigated (SWNS)
The 'earthquake-like damage seems to have come from unexplained movements underground that will now be investigated. (SWNS)

McClelland said that in some places the road had "buckled" up to four feet, and descriptions of it looking like an earthquake were accurate.

He added: "The underlying ground has slipped and we need to understand why that has happened.

"The police have been very clear that it's very dangerous for motorists to ignore signage."

The unprecedented damage is also affecting local business, with local pubs suffering huge losses in bookings since the closure.