Homes evacuated after 10m sinkhole opens up behind street in Woolwich

Residents were evacuated from homes in south-east London after a large sinkhole opened up behind a row of houses.

The hole - measuring 10 metres by three metres across, and seven metres deep - appeared behind St Mary Street, Woolwich, on Tuesday evening.

It is understood to have been caused by flooding from a burst water main.

London Fire Brigade was scrambled to the scene around 9.30pm.

Firefighters evacuated 11 people from three properties, and a 25-metre cordon was put in place. There were no reports of any injuries.

St Mary Street was closed between the junction of Sunbury Street and Kingsman Street while emergency crews worked to make the scene safe.

The fire brigade left the scene by around 1pm.