RESIDENTS were left having to divert traffic along a road after part of it collapsed.

A sink hole opened up in Pownall Crescent, Colchester, on Wednesday afternoon, while at the same time a burst water main was causing traffic chaos near the town centre.

Ward councillor Dave Harris reported the sink hole to Essex Highways, which shut off the area to make it safe.

Mr Harris added: “What is not safe is the fact it is a one way road.

“Traffic was going the wrong way and without any signs it made it a risky situation.”

He contacted Essex Highways again later asking them to put out some signage as a matter of urgency.

He said: “It caused massive trouble as people were having to disobey the rules in that road and go up the wrong way.”

Some residents said they spent more than half an hour directing traffic around the sink hole before help came.

They said there were no diversions in place so drivers had to turn back into Mersea Road.

According to other residents the road is renowned for potholes, and it is thought the sinkhole came from an existing pothole.

Zara Newton, a resident of Pownall Crescent, said the whole street heard the noise.

She said: “It was a little pot hole at first which has been there for about a week now. On Wednesday, at about midday, we heard a massive crack.

“We all wondered what it was and all of the neighbours came outside to see.

“It was now a sink hole and a car had to swerve to miss it while it was cracking.”

At about 1pm the same day, a water main burst in East Street which prevented cars and buses from getting through town.

The road was closed until yesterday afternoon while Anglian Water fixed the problem.

It came after another burst water main in Turner Road a couple of weeks ago.

Essex Highways said the sink hole should be fixed by today.

A spokesman said: “Our emergency crew responded on Wednesday to information that a section of road in Pownall Crescent had subsided.

“Engineers are beginning investigations on site this morning and depending on what is found, we hope to begin repair work today or tomorrow.

“Work will take place during daytime only and because the road is one-way we will make arrangements for vehicle access for residents.”

Mr Harris said he was disappointed signs and diversions had not been added sooner. He said: “It should have been done immediately, and this shows how people should always report potholes to Essex Highways when they see them.”