A "HUGE SINKHOLE" that opened up north of Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline was so big it took around 250 tonnes of stones to fill it. 

The ground collapse in woodland near the junction of Whitefield Road and Kingseat Road was reported to the Coal Authority in May and the area fenced off for safety reasons.

It was thought that old mineshafts lay beneath the surface and that the land had become unstable.

In July, the Coal Authority pledged to investigate when lockdown restrictions had eased sufficiently and said if the sinkhole was due to disused coal mines "we will undertake repair works as required".

They've had workers at the site in the past week and a spokesperson told the Press: "We have now carried out investigative works and determined that the likely cause of the collapse was historical unrecorded workings beneath the incident.

"Works are currently under way to repair the collapse in a suitable manor with permanent fencing installed.

"Future landscaping works will take place to reinstate trees/vegetation in the immediately surrounding area."

The Coal Authority said they couldn't say exactly how deep the hole was "as we cannot get close enough due to the safety exclusion zone".

The spokesperson added: "Debris and fallen trees were removed from the collapse and it was filled with approximately 250 tonnes of stone."

Graeme Whyte, of Bellyeoman Community Council, had previously told the Press: “A huge sinkhole appeared and it was reported to Fife Council.

“There were trees falling into it so they’ve fenced it off as it’s obviously a danger.

“I know there are old mineshafts in the area and I think this is at the western edge of the coal workings from many years ago."