Belfast road to re-open after sinkhole opens

The subsidence had been spotted on the Malone Road, close to the Botanic Inn pub, on Sunday.

The road is one of the main southern routes into the city centre, and was shut to traffic as a result of the discovery.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Infrastructure (the newly-formed body which has largely replaced the Department for Regional Development) said contractors expect to have the road open in both directions later today.

She said investigations were under way into the cause of the incident.

The hole appeared to be several inches wide before workmen moved in.

The contractors got to work digging out the road surface, creating a hole about 1.5m (about five feet) deep and 2m (about 6.5 feet) wide, before filling it in again.