A road in Diss was closed yesterday for emergency repairs as the county council tried to resolve long-standing problems with subsidence.

A road in Diss was closed yesterday for emergency repairs as the county council tried to resolve long-standing problems with subsidence.

The authority is concerned about a hole that keeps opening up beneath the road surface outside the Toy Box toy shop in St Nicholas Street.

Shopkeeper Roy Minshull said that workmen had been out four times in the past week to fill up the hole, at the side of the road, but the new surfacing just keeps sinking into the ground.

And during the recent heavy rain, the water has pooled into the depression, instead of an adjacent drain.

“On one occasion they put in three barrow loads of Tarmac, then came back two days later and put in three bagfuls.

“On Wednesday they used four tubfuls, and now the same guy is back today digging it all out again,” he said.

Mr Minshull added that the problem had been going on for the past year and he understood there had been a wrangle as to who was responsible for carrying out repairs.

A county council spokesman said: “The problem seems to be linked to a reinstatement of the road by a utility company - water, telecom, etc. Norfolk County Council is carrying out an immediate investigation to find out the extent and cause of the problem.

“If possible, the void will be filled and the road reopened within 24 hours, pending a permanent repair. However, if the void is larger than expected, St Nicholas Street may have to remain closed for longer.”