We're looking into it

Sink hole on Acre Lane, Derker. Council workers establish it is likely to be a mains collapse and therefore United Utilities' responsibility.

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A LARGE sink hole "the size of a small car" has appeared in Derker after a mains sewer pipe collapsed.

Residents raised concerns over young children playing at the site between Acre Lane and Bartlemore Street, and called for something to be done to make it secure.

Oldham Council officers attended the site yesterday morning to carry out tests, cordoned the area and said that the sewer had collapsed. They said United Utilities had been informed about the situation.

However, United Utilities said they had not been told about the sink hole until the Chronicle made contact. Their specialist engineers have since visited the site to assess the problem.

Acre Lane resident Margaret Moxa said: "I was walking my dogs and noticed hole almost big enough to fit a car in. The ground has just fallen in.

"My greatest concern is that there are young children around and no on seems to be able to do anything. They keep standing on the edge and someone could easily fall in."

Mrs Moxa contacted environmental health but said she was told "nothing could be done" as the sink hole was on private land.

She added: "Does it take a child falling down the hole for someone to do something?

"When a child does fall in I hope they have a clear conscience."

A spokesman for United Utilities said: "Thanks to the Oldham Chronicle for calling us, it was the first we knew of it. Specialist engineers have now visited the site, although until we carry out underground CCTV and radar, at this stage we are not sure what has happened."