Haringey Council said a huge sinkhole that appeared in the middle of a road was not caused by a leaking pipe.

The sinkhole first appeared in Weston Park, Crouch End, on Friday April 14 and grew in size over the weekend.

Former Crouch End councillor David Winskill said he had heard from an engineer that it was caused by a 'long lasting Thames Water leak'.

But despite this paper contacting the water company on April 18, no response was forthcoming to confirm or deny this.

Mr Winskill said: "When I saw it on Friday (April 14) it was the size of a small dinner plate. When I saw it four days later it was four metres in diameter with a really big void underneath."

He added: "A civil engineer who was attending it said it was because of a very long-lasting Thames Water leak that's been gradually washing away the subsoil, and that's created it."

Mr Winskill said the Stonebridge Brook runs along the west of Weston Park and speculated that that is where the water and spoil is washing to.

"Weston Park is at the foot of an awful lot of hills so there will be a lot of water coming down off the hill anyway," he added.

A January 2022 flood investigation report by Haringey Council for Hornsey and Crouch End said a "610mm diameter brick surface water sewer passes under Weston Park".

It is not known if this is related.

Mr Winskill said the sinkhole appeared after the road was recently resurfaced.

"Asphalt was relatively freshly laid, it still clean, now this happened so it's going to cost someone a lot of money," he said.

"If Haringey can demonstrate this is because of a long-term Thames Water leak then without question Thames Water should be fully liable for the make good work."

A Haringey Council spokesperson said: "The sinkhole has been fixed.

"It was checked out by network management team officers in conjunction with Thames Water.

"It was not linked to a sewer issue or any other water related cause.

"The reinstatement was completed on Thursday and the road reopened in both directions."