Highway engineers were stunned when they went to inspect a section of road and discovered this giant hole.

The gaping chasm, measuring 5 metres across and more than 3.5metres deep, was found near Wells, Somerset.

Workers quickly undertook a safety study before filling the void, which was in the middle of the B3135 Roemead Road at Green Ore, with nearly 200 tonnes of stone.

Drainage and re-surfacing work was then able to take place, allowing the road to reopen late last week.

Harvey Siggs, Cabinet Member for Highways at Somerset County Council, said it was unclear what caused the massive hole.

"I'd like to praise the highways staff and contractors involved in this repair project," Mr Siggs said.

"Our roads have been hit hard following the severe weather over the last couple of years but our teams have worked exceptionally hard throughout.

"Somerset County Council repaired over 25,000 potholes during the last financial year which is nearly 70 every day - thankfully extreme incidents like this one are very rare."

Roads across Somerset took a pummelling during one of the wettest winters on record, which resulted in hundreds of homes being flooded.

Possible explanations for the hole include soil erosion by overland and ground water or a link to historic mining activities dating back to Roman times.