Car falls into sinkhole in Essex after Storm Ciara batters Britain

A motorist in Essex had a very lucky escape after his car fell into a huge sinkhole following wild weather caused by Storm Ciara.

Homes were evacuated on a residential road in Brentwood after the car became trapped nose-first in the sinkhole, with pictures from the scene showing the driver and passenger doors wide open and both airbags inflated.

It is believed that the car was being driven on the road when the sinkhole opened up, although the driver is said to have escaped uninjured.

Firefighters were called to Hatch Road, in the Pilgrims Hatch area, shortly after 1.30am on Monday following reports that a sewer had partially collapsed.

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said crews reported that the hole had extended into the road and a car was trapped.

Six properties were evacuated in the early hours of the morning due to unstable ground.

Gordon Humphrey, who lives next to the sinkhole said he and his wife heard a bang.

The highways officer said that he saw someone, who he did not believe to be the driver, in the front of the car with water up to the seats.

"He was sitting in there trying to find something. He said his mate was in shock."

Mr Humphrey said his wife Lesley, 59, called the emergency services and they were told to leave the house before it was later declared safe to return.

The process of removing the vehicle from the hole, thought to be about two metres deep, began shortly before midday on Monday.

After it was removed engineers began working on the large hole, which is partially filled with water.

Storm Ciara brought a month and a half's rainfall in just 24 hours as gusts of more than 90 miles per hour swept across the country on Sunday.

Thousands of people were left without power, some homes were evacuated, buildings were damaged and sporting fixtures postponed.