A road that had to be closed for emergency repairs after a sinkhole appeared is set to stay shut for another week.

The hole appeared in Stafford Road in Shirley at the end of March, and photos show road closed signs, barriers and cones all surrounding the hole in the road, which shrouds the area underneath the road in total darkness below.

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According to updated information on Southampton City Council's interactive traffic map, Stafford Road is not expected to reopen until April 17 as "emergency carriageway repairs" are undertaken.

Stafford Road remains closed.Stafford Road remains closed. (Image: Newsquest) The Echo understands that Southern Water is responsible for the repair of the road, as works relate to a sewer repair, and that the likelihood is that the road will not reopen before the end of next week.

Stafford Road has been closed since the last week of March, where white spray paint sits around the sinkhole.

The neighbouring Lisbon Road in Shirley also remains closed due to emergency gas works.