A ROAD has been closed and two homes evacuated after a sinkhole opened up today Thursday, 22 December) in Grays.

It happened between homes close to the junction of Rectory Road and Chadwell Road in Little Thurrock.

At 1.45pm a surveyor called to the scene said it was possible the hole, estimated to be around three metres deep would continue to widen.

And this evening the full extent of the hole under two semi-detached homes is substantially larger than that, an engineer on site told Nub News it was around 25 sq metres.

And a second subsidence has started to appear.

All utilities have been cut off including power, gas and water.

The homes have been evacuated and diversions implemented on adjacent roads while the emergency services and council staff carry out investigations.

Rectory Road, south of the junction with Chadwell Road, remains closed.

A statement from Essex Fire and Rescue Grays station manager Ean Summerfield said: "Both properties have been evacuated and a section of Rectory Road has been closed, between Chadwell Road and Boscombe Avenue, as a precaution.

"We are working with utilities companies, Essex Police and Thurrock Council to make the scene safe."