A CAVERN has been discovered under a busy road in the Colne Valley.

Engineers were called to the A62 Manchester Road near Slaithwaite yesterday after a small part of the pavement showed a dip.

Their investigations led to the surprise discovery of a cave under both lanes which reached across the entire width of the road.

Restrictions will remain in place for around two weeks.

Workmen spent the majority of yesterday undertaking preliminary checks at the scene, not far from Westwyns Riding School near Austerlands.

There is a mix of concrete and soil which creates a foundation below the surface.

Initial checks of the site suggest that the force of a stream passing underneath the A62 has managed to gradually pull through this subsoil from the road surface.

The debris has been carried away on the force of the water and left the gaping hole which one workman described as “massive”.

Engineers will face the big task of creating a pipe to channel the stream water safely under the road, over the next few weeks.

When the slight dip in the pavement was discovered, JCBs were called to the site to check the road surface.

Workmen dug small holes at the side of the A62 and were able to look underneath the road and shine torches into the cavern.

Engineers checked plans for the area, which dated back to the 1950s, to survey what work had taken place underground.

One of the main obstacles is a water pipe which runs below the road which takes untreated reservoir water to a treatment plant.

A spokesman for Kirklees Council said: “Urgent repairs are being carried out on the A62 Manchester Road in Slaithwaite.

“An underground pipe needs to be installed due to drainage problems and temporary traffic lights will be in place for approximately two weeks.”