OFFICIALS are warning people to stay away from a 100ft-deep crater which has opened up on land near Newcastle International Airport.
The hole began to develop on Saturday, on land owned by the coal authority. It is believed to have been caused by the weight of excessive rainwater on a disused mineshaft near Dinnington, Northumberland.
The Environment Agency said the crater has now grown from 3ft to 80ft in diameter and is about 100ft deep.
Newcastle City council has cordoned off the area, where a spectacular torrent of flood water is pouring over the rim into the cavern below. Members of the public are being urged to stay away from the site, although there is not thought to be any danger to the airport
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