ST HELENS Council says it is looking at options to carry out repair works after a sinkhole appeared on a road last week.

Mercer Street in Newton-le-Willows has been closed off after the sinkhole appeared on Friday, June 4.

It opened on the road, to the back of Verona Kitchen & Bar.

It had initially been thought to have possibly been the result of a collapsed sewer but this has been ruled out.

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A St Helens Council spokesman said: "All United Utilities assets are in working order with no obvious defects found, so it's not because of a collapsed sewer.

"We are looking at options to carry out the repair works."

The road will remain closed for repairs.