Huddersfield residents have demanded more be done to get to the bottom of a large mystery hole that swallowed up part of their street five weeks ago.

Several residents who live in Lindley’s Kirkwood Drive say that they have been left in the dark by Kirklees Council since they reported the six feet wide and roughly nine feet deep pit on July 1.

Council staff who are looking into the hole believe that it may be due to the collapse of a disused sewer which has been caused by a nearby underground well.

However, despite cordoning off the hole with several metal barriers, they are unable to confirm when repair works will recommence.

Resident Denis Womack was shocked to find the hole, which appeared outside his window during the afternoon.

Starting as a dip in the road, it quickly widened and deepened and took over part of the lane nearest his house, causing him to call the council to report it.

Police were called to the scene to place an emergency cordon around the sink hole before the council’s highway staff excavated the site to investigate and dug deeper to prevent further damage to the road.

Denis, 80, said: “To be honest, it’s a right state.

“I’ve complained to the council several times but they can’t confirm when work will be carried out or who by.

“They’ve been very pleasant on the telephone but we need answers and in that respect it feels like trying to talk to a brick wall.

“It’s hard for traffic to pass, especially for the local 378 bus.”

Meanwhile, his neighbours, Leslie and Sheila Stewart, were similarly unimpressed.

Sheila, 79, said: “We wish that we had been given more information about what is going on.

“We only learnt that it was a collapsed sewer because we asked the workmen when they first came but we have had no letters from the council.

“One even said that when work does start they may have to close off the road but again we’ve been sent no details about this.

“We have to be careful when reversing out of our drive so that we don’t hit the metal sheeting and cones that fall over when it’s windy, so would like something to be done soon.”

Lindley councillor Cahal Burke, said: “It is an old, disused sewer but the matter is in hand and we are just waiting to see how the experts are going to solve it.

“It’s unfortunate that it is taking longer than we hoped but they want to ensure they repair it properly to make sure that it is made properly safe and that’s the most important thing.

“It’s also been slowing down traffic which can get quite fast on the road, which some residents have told me is a good thing, in an unintended way.”