Pictures: sinkhole shuts Tennyson Close in Herefordshire

Tennyson Close, off Shakespeare Road in the Whitecross area of the city, was shut on Monday (September 30) following the discovery.

Originally Herefordshire Council said that the area would be closed for three days, with the emergency closure expected to finish by 11.59 pm on October 2.

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But, due to remedial works needing to be carried out, the closure has now been extended until October 4.

The council has added that delays are likely in the area as a result of the closure.

The affected area has been cordoned off. (Image: Julia Baker) The sinkhole itself is now cordoned off, with road closure signs and warnings in place nearby. The footpath directly next to the affected area is also closed, with pedestrians warned to avoid the nearby pavement.

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According to the British Geological Survey (BGS), a sinkhole is "a natural surface depression caused by dissolution of soluble rocks at depth".

While gradual dissolution happening underground can cause a sinkhole to form, several things can make the cavities appear.

Heavy rain or surface flooding can initiate their collapse, along with human triggers such as construction work, leaking drainage pipes, burst water mains and groundwater abstraction, according to the BGS.