A problem sinkhole that was patched up following residents’ complaints in Dollis Hill is at risk of collapsing again.

The hole in Pinemartin Close was recently filled in after it had grown to a size that covered most of a three-way junction.

Those living nearby had frequently complained about the issue and said it had been ongoing “for around three years”.

It has since been repaired but already has protection barriers and cones around it to stop people walking or driving over it.

On a visit to the site by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), several cars were seen driving down the wrong side of the road to avoid the sinkhole.

Former Liberal Democrat councillor Alison Hopkins said the lack of a proper repair job shows “how little [Brent] Council cares” about the area, particularly when several residents have reported the problem on multiple occasions.

She hit out at the council’s “incompetence” as safety cones were placed at the site “just days” after it was supposedly fixed.

Alison has urged the council to “sit down with whoever is responsible and get it sorted properly” as patching up jobs will “only make the problem worse”.

The hole has also been a target for litter and in its previous state, people had also thrown in traffic cones and tipped over some of the safety barriers.

Brent Council previously said it believes there is an underlying issue at the site, which could be affecting any repairs.

It added the leader of the council, Cllr Muhammed Butt, requested a meeting with Thames Water to discuss the problem.

A spokeswoman for Thames Water explained it carried out inspections in August and found no defects in its system.

She said this showed the hole was not linked to any underlying water issues and this has been fed back to the council.

A Brent Council spokesperson said: “After conducting further investigations we are currently working to identify the underlying issue that is causing the base to erode resulting in the carriageway failing.

"We have now engaged structural engineer consultants to conduct investigations to establish the cause so we can confirm the most appropriate course of action for repair.

"This is a priority issue which we are working to resolve.”