A COLLAPSED sewer caused a hole to open up in a road near Clacton town centre.

Wellesley Road was closed this morning after a police officer spotted the hole while driving past.

The hole measures about 2ft across, but is 6ft deep and expands to about 15ft across under the road surface. 

The road was closed between Alexandra Road and Pier Avenue.

Highways officers and Anglian Water engineers were sent to the scene.

Engineers sent a camera down into the hole to find out what had caused the problem.

It has now been confirmed a sewer pipe has collapsed, causing the road to crumble away.

Emergency supports have been put in place and work will start to fix the issue on Saturday morning.

It is expected to last at least through the weekend. During the work the road will stay closed.