A HUGE mystery hole which opened up near a main road is part of ongoing developments to a nearby quarry, it has been revealed.

Drivers using the A38 between Worcester and Upton-upon-Severn, and villagers from nearby Clifton, have been scratching their heads after heavy plant machinery dug away five hectares (12.3 acres) of top soil last month.

Ian Done, of Kay Avenue, Worcester, who commutes daily to Upton-upon-Severn said many people were wondering what was going on.

He said: “When they started doing it there were some massive earth movers down there, big equipment, and it was getting larger each day.

“It was causing interest among a lot of people.”

Tarmac, the company which owns the nearby sand and gravel quarry, has now offered an explanation for the hole’s appearance saying commercial operations were moving into a different area of the site.

The work is being preceded by an archaeological dig after several neolithic finds were discovered at another site nearby.

Stuart Lawrence, Tarmac’s Western area senior estates surveyor, said: “The work being carried out alongside the A38 is the next phase of the continued development of Clifton Quarry under the existing planning permission granted in 2006.

“The area next to the A38 is being prepared for mineral extraction but before it starts a detailed archaeological investigation of the site is being conducted.”

In previous archaeological digs, stone axes and other items showing settlement along the former site of river Severn’s bank have been uncovered.

Mr Done said: “I think it’s a nice idea they are going to investigate the site’s history. It would be interesting to see any finds.”

Worcestershire County Council’s Historic Environment and Archaeology Service has already started a dig at the site which will continue until the end of November.

Robin Jackson, project officer, said: “What we are digging up is very important because it is one of the first permanent early farms in the country.”

After commercial operations finish the quarry pits will be restored as wetlands.