Couple who live next to giant sinkhole that appeared over weekend 'have suitcases packed'

A couple who live next to a giant sinkhole which appeared over the weekend say they have their "suitcases packed" as they are left waiting to hear whether they will need to evacuate their home.

The sinkhole, which emerged on Green Field, off Pole Lane in Darwen, East Lancashire, is understood to have first been reported on Sunday morning. Emergency services were then called to the Taylor's Field housing estate, Lancs Live reports.

A major incident has since been declared and people are being urged to avoid the area.

Glenda Stafford and her husband are now two residents in the area who are waiting to hear if they will need to evacuate their home, which they recently bought in 2019. The couple's house is currently the closest occupied property to the sinkhole, and the pair say they are ready to leave if required to.

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"We've got our suitcases packed just in case," Glenda told Lancs Live. "Although we have spoken to the council today and they said they think we'll be okay."

While the couple are waiting to hear if they will need to leave the area due to the sinkhole, other residents were immediately evacuated.

The seven properties closest to the sinkhole, which was initially around 15 metres deep, were evacuated from the area yesterday and have been given temporary accommodation in a nearby hotel.

Glenda added: "One of the residents who lives closer to it has a really old classic car so he was straight in his garage to move his car, I think he was more worried about the car than the house."

Pictures of the sinkhole taken on Sunday show a silver BMW car which is around a metre from the edge. However it is understood