POLICE officers were forced to put a cordon in place in order to keep the public safe after a section of road suddenly caved in.

Essex Police informed Essex Highways engineers of a sizeable sinkhole on November 6 after it appeared in Church Road, Clacton.

The roads maintenance agency immediately sent an emergency team to the scene of the deep crater before stabilising the site.

Anglian Water workers are believed to have started repairing the sinkhole today with a view of reopening the area as soon as possible.

A spokesman for Essex Highways said: “Essex Highways received a call from Essex Police on November 6 informing us a sinkhole had appeared in Church Road, Clacton.

“Our emergency response crew immediately went on site to make the area safe.

“Works to repair the broken sewer pipe that caused the sinkhole begin today, Wednesday, and will be carried out by Anglian Water.”