Residents return after sinkhole swallows road sweeper

People living near a sinkhole from old mineworks that swallowed a road sweeper have been allowed to return home.

Five properties were evacuated as a precaution on Monday after the hole appeared in a lane behind Aber-Rhondda Road between Porth and Ynyshir, Rhondda Cynon Taf, at about 14:20 GMT.

The driver of the road sweeper, whose vehicle fell down the sinkhole, was unharmed.

The Mining Remediation Authority [MRA] said: "The collapse has been filled with stone to stabilise the immediate area, and monitoring will continue throughout the investigation".

Aber-Rhondda Road was temporarily closed by South Wales Police as a precaution, but has since reopened.

A council spokesperson added: "The Mining Remediation Authority have taken lead on this issue as there is a possibility this is related to old mine workings.

"Their engineers are assessing the sinkhole, and the council is on hand to support if required."

The MRA said it was "working closely" with the police and council.

"We understand the disruption this causes and would like to thank the local community for their patience and cooperation," it said.

"If this incident was due to historic coal mining, we will design and deliver a permanent solution as quickly and safely as possible."

Additional reporting by Paul Pigott