A major incident has been declared over what police have called a sinkhole at a canal in Shropshire, leaving boats either stricken in a gaping cavity or teetering on the edge of a steep drop.
Pictures appear to show that the structural integrity of a stretch of waterway in the Chemistry area of Whitchurch has completely given way, raising flooding fears.
Two narrowboats are said to have sunk into the hole, into which water looks to have drained completely. Another two are at the edge.
Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service said it was responding to a landslip and confirmed a canal was affected. There are no reports of casualties, according to West Mercia Police.
The force asked people to avoid the area and seek alternate routes.
