A busy road has been shut and access to part of a service station barricaded off due to a sinkhole.

Berengrave Lane in Rainham is closed to drivers, with access only available to residents.

Works started this morning with a three-way traffic light system set up at the junction of Lower Rainham Road.

However, at around 2pm the road was then shut. The closure is set to last until next Wednesday (February 7).

Berengrave Service Station claims motorists were cutting through the forecourt at speed as a shortcut.

They decided to barricade off part of the access to the station to prevent this.

One staff member said: “We weren’t notified of the closure.

“The subsidence first appeared around two and a half years ago.

“It has been filled constantly and could potentially get quite big.

“A number of customers had reported it after their tyres were blown.

“We were at work yesterday evening when it opened. With a flashlight you could see the water down the hole.”

Birling Avenue, which leads into the road, has also been closed since Monday (January 29).

Southern Water is currently carrying out utility repair and maintenance works.

It is set to go on until next Friday (February 9).

The utility company has been contacted for a comment.