Officials investigate cause of street collapse

Officials in the North are trying to establish the cause of the collapse of part of one of Belfast's busiest streets into a large hole.

Huge disruption is expected after a section of the tarmac on Cromac Street sagged leaving a deep dent.

Engineers believe it could stretch up to 15 square metres.

Colin Brown from the Northern Ireland Roads Service said: "It's quite early to speculate what exactly has caused the problem.

"It's important to clarify [that] Belfast sits on a very soft illuvial clay and periodically voids do form under the roads but we hopefully will resolve the problem in the next 24 hours."