Seafront road collapses in two large potholes

The first hole (right) was noticed on Monday by Colin Jenner, of King Edward Avenue, Hastings, who was on a day trip to Bexhill beach with his family.

He labelled the hole, beside the Clock Tower, "dangerous", saying it was a trap which could have seriously harmed his young daughter.

"If I'd been driving, that could easily have collapsed," he added.

Sited next to major earthworks ripping up West Parade as part of the Next Wave redevelopment, the relatively small opening widened into a small cavern beneath the road. The tarmac skin sagged noticeably as cars turned in and out of the busy road before workmen from East Sussex County Council (ESCC) arrived to fill it in.

West Parade is known to ESCC for occasional collapses, and sources at county said it was unlikely the holes were related to the Next Wave development.

The next and larger hole was discovered on Tuesday close to the Sovereign Light Cafe on West Parade. It too, was filled in by county workmen on Wednesday morning.

A spokesman for the county council said: "We received a report of a hole in the road at the corner of West Parade and Park Avenue, by the Clock Tower. One of our highways inspectors went to investigate and found a minor road collapse which was filled and repaired by the streetworks team within 24 hours of it being reported. Whilst on site, our inspector found a second hole in the road and this was also repaired by the street works team.

"We regularly inspect the roads in Bexhill to record any holes or defects and carry out repairs. To report a pothole or fault in the road, speak to the East Sussex Highways Contact Centre on 0345 60 80 193 or you can report it through our website: www.eastsussex.gov.uk/fault