Work is under way to repair a sinkhole which has suddenly appeared at an historic quay in north-east Essex.

The large hole opened up at Mistley Quay at around 2pm yesterday, said a spokesman for T W Logistics, the distribution firm that owns the quay.

She said: “We are currently investigating an apparent sinkhole that has appeared.

“We will be undertaking a full assessment over the coming days.”

The spokesman would not be drawn on what vehicles or equipment may have fallen in the sinkhole.

But when asked to comment on reports a driver of a fork-lift truck had been taken to hospital, she said she “had not heard anything about that”.

The dimensions of the sinkhole have not been disclosed.