WORK was today due to be completed on repairing a road closed off by a sinkhole.

Athelstan Road in Colchester was closed last Tuesday after a hole opened.

Anglian Water has since been working around the clock to fix the sewage pipe which is believed to have caused the hole in the road.

Residents said this was not the first time it had happened and that another sinkhole had opened up about three years ago.

Tony Argent, who lives nearby, said the work to fill the hole and reinstate the road surface is ongoing. He said: “We think the sinkhole was caused by a hole in the sewage pipe, The housing is very old in the area.

“Before the hole appeared we have some quite heavy rain which had no doubt filled the hole up.

“We are at quite a low level here, and when it rains the water gets carried down Maldon Road into our road.

“The workmen are still out there. I think they have just got to resurface the road and then they can open it again.”

Mr Argent said as the repairs had caused some disruption. He added: “It has caused a little bit of disruption as we have had to move our cars around so the trucks can get in and out.”

A spokesman said: An Anglian Water spokesperson said: “Our teams have been working to repair a damaged sewer pipe on Athelstan Road in Colchester. “The road should re-open today.

“We’re sorry for ay inconvenience this work has caused and would like to thank residents and road users for their patience while we get things back to normal.”