A hole has opened up underneath a moving bin lorry, partially swallowing the rear of the vehicle.

The hole suddenly fell through this afternoon (July 21) in Barfields, Loughton, as the Epping Forest District Council dust cart travelled with crew on board.

There are not believed to be any injuries.

Emergency services are on the scene and the lorry is still in the hole.

District council spokesman Tom Carne said the vehicle is a food and garden waste truck operated by contractor Biffa.

“We have never seen anything like this before,” he said.

It is not known why the ground suddenly gave way at about 2pm today.

Mr Carne said underground water flow could have washed away the earth beneath the road surface.

Frederick Simpson, 74, of Barfields, said: “The dust cart has come down the street and gone in a massive hole in the road, it has trapped itself.”

He added: “We was out shopping and when we came back we saw a big crowd of people.

“The fire brigade turned up but I think they went.”

Mr Carne said the district council is working with Biffa to remove the vehicle.

Options include using a large crane to lift the lorry before putting planks beneath, or starting the process using jacks.

Other Biffa carts are believed to have completed the route for the stuck truck, which had already made a number of collections before the incident.

Update 4.54pm: The vehicle has been removed from the hole by a recovery vehicle.

The dust cart was undamaged, and managed to drive away after it was removed.

The reasons for the hole appearing are now being investigated.