IT’S not every day you can safely stand in the middle of High Street in Thorpe-Le-Soken.

But after the road was blocked off, following the appearance of a sink hole on Wednesday, the village was nearly deserted during the usual morning ‘rush hour.’

However, normality and the usual throng along the B1033 between Walton/Kirby and Weeley should be restored today (Friday).

Diversions are set to end, with the completions of repairs, hopes Essex County Council.

Essex County highways staff discovered the sink hole on Wednesday morning and diversions were put in place.

Both Anglian Water and Affinity Water said it was not their pipes that had collapsed and referred the matter back to the county council.

Anglian Water said they sent staff to investigate who used a camera to find their pipes in good condition.

Affinity Water also found the water main feeding the area in good condition.

“Therefore we have not established any link between our water main and the cause of the sinkhole.”

Essex Council said the sewer was working properly and staff were now looking at utility service pipes.

The council was looking to arrange a repair, which it hoped would be done Thursday night, with the road back to normal today, a spokesman added.