A man had a shocking housewarming present when a gaping 30ft-deep hole suddenly opened up in the driveway of his new home.

Reg Mullenger, 67, had only moved into the house in Nayland Road, West Bergholt, three weeks ago and was having work done to build a garage in his back garden.

Reg Mullenger standing, not too close, to the 30ft hole in his driveway.

He said he had been told there was an old well on his land when he bought the property and that it had been filled in several years ago so he was astounded when the hole suddenly appeared.

A digger truck, which was being used to carve out the foundations for the new garage, was being driven along his driveway when workers noticed a slight hollow forming in it.

Mr Mullenger, a former international rally driver, said he stood on top of the indentation and remarked that it would need to be filled in with rubble.

But as the digger was making another trip over the dent a short while later it suddenly opened into a gaping hole, about 30ft deep and 4ft across.

The lorry's front tyre plunged into the chasm and it was only because it had six wheels that it was saved from toppling further in, said Mr Mullenger.

Published Friday October 25, 2002

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