A BURST water main caused a landslide on a road embankment near Kidderminster.

Worcestershire County Council says the landslide, off Lea Lane between Wolverley and Cookley, was caused by a burst water main, which washed part of the road into the canal.

Several trees and soil beneath the road slipped into the water, leaving a hole under the road surface.

Passerby Deanne Bollington said: "We were riding up the canal at about 1.30pm and saw the path was blocked with three or four trees in the canal. It's totally blocking the canal.

Kidderminster Shuttle:

"We looked up and saw there had obviously been a landslide - about a metre of the ground underneath the road had fallen down.

"We called 999 as it could be dangerous but the road was still open when we left."

Jon Fraser, of Worcestershire County Council's highways department, said Lea Lane has been closed as a precaution due to some subsidence.

He added: "Our highways team are currently carrying out investigations."

A spokesman for Worcestershire Canal and River Trust said: "Part of the embankment has come away taking with it a large chunk of soil and several trees.

"We need to assess what has happened but we may not get the full picture until next week.

"We’ve closed the canal and the local council are on site assessing the road."