Burrowing badgers leave road at risk of collapse

A rural road in North Lincolnshire has been closed due to damage caused by badgers tunnelling beneath the carriageway.

North Lincolnshire Council said parts of College Road, near East Halton, had sunk by almost 2cm and continued to move – with a serious risk of collapse if traffic continued to use it.

Specialist surveys revealed "widespread underground damage" at the location, a council spokesperson said.

A tender contract details active badger setts underneath the road and shares plans to relocate them.

Badgers are a protected species, making it illegal to kill or trap them without a licence.

The council said an "extensive" licensing process was required before repair work could begin.

A notice on North Lincolnshire Council's website said: "College Road, East Halton has been closed with immediate effect after engineers confirmed it is no longer safe for motorists.

"Parts of the road have sunk by almost 2cm and continues to move – with a serious risk of collapse if traffic keeps using it."

It adds: "Specialist surveys have revealed widespread underground damage caused by wildlife activity tunnelling beneath the carriageway. The extent of the voids means the ground beneath the surface can no longer be trusted."

Listen to highlights fromLincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch thelatest episode of Look Northor tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.

Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices