Engineers are trying to discover the history behind a mysterious underground pit that has thwarted plans for a junction.

Essex County Council contractors, working on the latest phase of Maldon town centre improvement works in West Square, were under instructions to plant a tree in the middle of new paving outside the police station.

But area highways engineer Steve Broad said when they began digging at the spot, they unearthed a four-metre pit containing an iron "mushroom-shaped" structure.

Mr Broad started an investigation to find out which utility company had dug the hole but each of them denied responsibility.

British Gas said it was on company records, as several gas pipes passed through it, but was already in existence when these were installed.

Unwilling to seal up the pit in case its true purpose later emerged, highways ordered a new manhole to be put in and the town council is now hoping to get round the tree problem by installing a sign or statue on the site instead.

But Mr Broad is still puzzled over what the hole was built for and has appealed to long-time Maldon residents to help solve the mystery.

He said: "It is quite a big hole, about 4m by 3m by 1m. It has this iron mushroom-type structure in one corner. But no-one is admitting responsibility."

Published Thursday, April 10, 2003

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