Sinkhole in high street shuts centre of Norfolk seaside resort

A high street in Norfolk is set to be closed for a week after a 2ft-wide sinkhole emerged in the middle of the road.

The hole, which the fire service said was at least 16ft deep, appeared around lunchtime on Saturday in Sheringham High Street, a seaside resort north of Norwich.

Norfolk Police said officers were at the scene following “reports a hole has appeared in the road”. The force advised locals to avoid the area.

Anglian Water, which sectioned off the area, will explore the sewers beneath the hole and carry out repairs.

Andrew Munden, chair of the Sheringham Chamber of Trade, told North Norfolk News a number of businesses would be forced to close until the issue was resolved.

It comes less than a year after a supermarket in North Yorkshire was evacuated when a sinkhole opened up in an alleyway behind the building.

Liz Sheringham, the deputy mayor of Sheringham, said: "The local fire and police services dealt superbly with the situation and local people came together and helped to manage the situation calmly and safely."

She added: "This is one of the busiest weeks of the year for Sheringham being half term and could have been a disaster for the town but as a result of this camaraderie and fighting spirit the town is very much open for business."

Sinkholes mainly occur in what is known as ‘karst terrain’; areas of land where soluble bedrock (such as limestone or gypsum) can be dissolved by water.

Though most emerge gradually, ones which suddenly open up are known as cover-collapse sinkholes.

These are often created when water dissolves the bedrock underneath until only a thin layer remains between the surface and an underground opening. This thin layer can then eventually collapse.