Car falls down huge hole in street in Charlton, London

• 1 hour ago
 
• From the sectionLondon

Image copyrightPA

Image captionThe blue Vauxhall Zafira is resting in the huge hole

A car has fallen down a huge hole in a street in south-east London.

The Vauxhall Zafira was left on Woodland Terrace in Charlton by Ghazi Hassan, who was visiting his brother on Wednesday night.

He said this "wasn't a good day" but was "thankful" his family were not hurt and no-one else was injured in the incident.

BBC Radio London has reported speculation that the collapse could be due to recent heavy rain.

More on this story and other news from London

The blue people carrier was discovered by police outside St Thomas' Church at about 03:20 BST.

Mr Hassan said: "In life you have good days and bad days. This morning wasn't a good day.

"But I'm thankful me or my family wasn't in the car.

"I've told the insurance. They are coming to pick it up and repair it so that's the positive side, and that no-one was injured."

Jump media player

Media player help

Out of media player. Press enter to return or tab to continue.

Media captionThe car was swallowed by the ground in Charlton, south London

Mr Ghazi's brother, Abdul Ahmadzai, said: "I woke up very surprised. The police were here about 4am so I came outside and saw the car - they said it was in a hole.

"I thought: 'There's nothing I can do' and went back to sleep. I just woke up again now."

Image captionWorkers from Thames Water are on the scene in Charlton

Image copyrightHELEN JAKEWAYS

Image captionThe blue people carrier is now behind a police cordon

Image copyrightPA

Image captionPolice were called to Woodland Terrace in the early hours

Reverend Erica Wooff, the rector of Charlton, who lives next door to the church, said her initial reaction was "Oh my goodness, there's a hole in the road".

"There was a massive storm last night. It has been raining constantly for the past two days but I didn't hear tarmac rip open," she said.

'Resting on pipe'

Resident Cleo O'Kane, 25, said she heard a loud bang during the night.

"It was raining so much I thought it was thunder," she said.

"I woke up and then just went back to sleep - my window was open - then woke up at six this morning, came outside and there was a car in a hole.

Jump media player

Media player help

Out of media player. Press enter to return or tab to continue.

Media captionVanessa Feltz speaks to Abdul Ahmadzai from Charlton who woke up to find his brother's car in a giant hole

She added: "All the car is resting on apparently is a pipe, otherwise it would have disappeared."

The road has been closed near the church due to "subsidence problems", London Buses said.

A police spokesman said no-one had been injured and a cordon was in place.

A council spokesperson said: "Royal Borough of Greenwich officers are on site and are continuing to work closely with Southern Gas Networks, Thames Water and the Police to ensure that the situation is contained.

"We are urgently investigating the matter and will update residents the moment we have more information."

Thames Water said there were engineers at the scene checking whether there is any damage to clean water or sewer pipes.

A diversion is in place for bus route 380.

Image captionThe car was parked outside St Thomas' Church on Woodland Terrace