ONE lane of Walton Street in Jericho was also closed yesterday after a large hole opened up in the middle of the road.

The road was last night closed southbound while Thames Water investigates what has happened and how it can be fixed.

County council spokesman Marcus Mabberley said: “Engineers from the county and city council have investigated the hole and decided that it is unsafe to run two-way traffic on the road for a prolonged period and so it will be closed southbound from Worcester Place to Walton Street’s junction with Beaumont Street from 4pm until further notice.

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The hole on Walton Street, near the junction with Beaumont Street and Worcester Place

“We appreciate the inconvenience this adds, but safety has to come first. Plans indicate that a foul sewer is located at that point and Thames Water will be carrying out an investigation.

“We hope to know more about the situation and what can be done once their investigation is complete.”

Local city and county councillor Susanna Pressel said: “I shall be asking how long the work is likely to take and urging haste.”

Alison King-Smith, from Cumnor, who walked past the hole, said: “I was just amazed that we are getting sink holes in Oxford.

“You hear about them in other parts of the country but not here.

“I am quite glad I wasn’t driving down the road when it happened.”

A Thames Water spokesman said last night that engineers were on site but it was too early to say what had caused the hole to appear.