It may not be as big as the one which has closed the M2, but Tenterden has its own sink hole.

A 3ft wide 2ft deep chasm has appeared in the grass on the recreation ground by the tennis courts.

Town council administrative assistant Robert Parham said it had been spotted by the council maintenance crew.

“They are always on the recreation ground doing work and saw this hole on Tuesday,” he said. “I guess it must have been caused by the rain.”

Staff have put red and white warning tape round the hole to alert the public while investigations continue into filling it.

The M2 sink hole, big enough to fit a bus inside, also appeared on Tuesday, between junction 5 for Sittingbourne and junction 6 for Faversham, causing traffic gridlock as drivers were diverted.

The giant chasm, measuring 16ft by 6ft and a staggering 15ft deep, opened up between the barriers of the central reservations.

A Highways Agency spokesman said: "Lanes on the M2 will only be reopened to traffic as soon as it is safe to do so.”