Bexley sinkhole: Huge crater swallows motorbike in southeast London street

A 5m deep sinkhole spanning an entire road has opened up in a residential area of southeast London.

Residents of Marten’s Avenue, Bexleyheath, were left stunned yesterday evening (Tuesday, June 21) when their street began cracking before the surface collapsed into a large hole.

Emergency services were called to the scene and nearby roads were closed.

The hole, which now covers the entire width of the street and is several metres long, has also swallowed a motorbike.

Officers said no-one had been hurt and the rider had left the scene prior to police arrival.

The road has been cordoned off as far as Leysdown Avenue.

Mike Stanton, who tweeted a photo, said: “Apparently it opened up literally five minutes before I got there.

“My van could have been in the hole.”

A Met Police spokesperson said: “Police were called to Martens Avenue, Bexleyheath, shortly before 9pm to reports of a large sinkhole.

“Officers attended and road closures have been put in place.

“A motorcycle was located in the sinkhole, the rider is believed to have left the scene prior to police attendance.

“There are no reported injuries.

A spokesperson for the London Fire Brigade added: “Firefighters were called at 9.06pm last night to a sink hole the depth of 5m in the road on Martens Avenue in Bexleyheath.

“We helped make the scene safe and the incident was over for crews by 10.28pm.”

The London Ambulance Service and Bexley Council have been contacted for comment.