A HUGE hole opened up in a busy road in East Lancashire this afternoon.

United Utilities said it believed the section of Padiham Road, close to the White Hart pub, collapsed into a brook at 3.30pm due to a heavy vehicle passing by.

Seven surrounding streets and a caravan site were left without water for a short time.

Police and the council were informed by residents who said there had been recent roadworks in the area.

Traffic was stopped at the bridge into Sabden from the direction of Pendle Hill and authorities remained at the scene on Friday evening.

David Cunliffe, 51, from Burnley, was staying on a nearby caravan site visiting family, when he noticed the hole in Padiham Road.

He said: “It’s quite a sight. It’s fortunate nobody was walking along at the time because they could have been killed.

“There has been work ongoing to put a pavement over the bridge and make it a one-way priority.”

Police, United Utilities and Lancashire County Council have put barriers up.