HIGHWAYS officials say they are still investigating a sinkhole which has left Flag Lane closed for a fourth day.

Cheshire East Council says United Utilities staff have been called in to assess how the hole, which is around three to four feet wide, emerged and what repair work will be needed.

Flag Lane has been closed off between Wistaston Road and its junction with Lewis Street since late last Friday night. No time scale has been revealed for how long work to reinstate the surface will take.

A Cheshire East Council spokesperson said: "A sink hole in Flag Lane in Crewe is under investigation. Members of the council's highways team attended following reports of the hole at the weekend and closed the road for safety reasons.

"It is being assessed by United Utilities to identify the cause, in order for repairs to be made."

Motorists, who now face taking a circuitous route off Wistaston Road when heading to Hightown and West Street, have also been hit by other roadworks in the area, including a kerb lowering scheme which is in operation all this week at the junction of Wistaston Road and Stewart Street.

Cheshire East Council says it has a backlog of roadworks that are set to start over the summer as a result of the Covid-19 crisis.