A street collapsed in central Florence sending dozens of cars sinking into the ground.

The disaster happened on Wednesday near to the famous Ponte Vecchio, a medieval bridge over the River Arno in the Italian city.

The massive hole measuring 200 metres in length and seven metres in width has caused hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of damage.

Firefighters believe the chasm was created after a large water pipe beneath the surface buckled, cutting water supplies to part of the ancient city.

Thousands of residents have been left without water supplies while local emergency services investigate the cause.