South Shields Sinkhole

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My understanding of the general use of the 2 terms:

Potholes are (usually) small holes in the top layer of the tarmac due to poor road maintenance.

Sinkholes are holes in the ground that happen because the Earth is dissolved/eroded from below.


This
Correct.

Pot holes start at the surface and work downwards usually due to traffic, frost damage etc

Sink holes start underground when the bedrock erodes and work their way to the surface.

The area around Sunderland and South Shields is on soft Magnesian Limestone which can be eroded by water over many years and then the ground collapses without any warning. The water can come from an underground stream, or from the surface, or from a broken drain or water pipe.
 


Just heard on the radio that a road in South Shields has been closed in both directions after a sinkhole has appeared.

Forgive my ignorance but are sinkholes similar to the potholes I hear people talk about each Winter ?

It's a pothole, the Council just confirmed it.
 
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