In January, Chancellor Rachel Reeves

Limestone and chalk are formed from the deposit and compression of micro-organisms found in shallow warm seas. Millions of years ago the UK was located further south towards the equator and was much warmer with parts of the country submerged - creating the ideal conditions for these rock types to form.Dr Vanessa Banks, expert in shallow geohazards and risks at the British Geological Survey, told the BBC's Radio 4 PM programme: "Sinkholes occur in spates but many are not recorded as they occur in remote areas."

She added that meteorological conditions play a role as extreme downpours can flush water through the rocks or put pressure on infrastructure like water mains.Last December, about 30 homes wereafter the ground collapsed, and in 2014 sinkholes occurred at five to ten times the normal rate across south-east England after intense storm conditions.

"Collapse sinkholes" which can appear suddenly and without any warnings at the surface, like cracks or subsidence, can be dangerous.In 2010, a sinkhole measuring 20m in diameter and 90m deep, appeared in Guatemala City which resulted in the death of one person. In this case heavy rains and poor drainage are thought to have weakened the underlying rock.

, apparently as the result of a sewer rupture. The truck's 74-year-old driver was reported missing.

In the case of dissolution sinkholes geologists can indicate which areas are more at risk if the underlying rock is made up of chalk or limestone. For any new development in the UK the local planning authority does review the geology and any potential risks.“I wasn’t afraid of anything at all, but now I’m even afraid to be in Kharkiv. I still hoped that Russia was not a terrorist state and that they attacked only military targets, but they hit the civilians.”

“I thank the United States for helping us. I’m grateful to Germany and all the countries of the world for what they’ve done. But we are helpless, and we have nothing. We’re suffering so much… we can’t defend ourselves.”Ukraine is not as badly off as Olena Lupak fears, though it is understandable to feel that way in Kharkiv this month. Wounded men from the garden centre, lying in hospital beds with shattered limbs, were just as fearful.

“Honestly, I don’t know what will happen,” said Vitalii, whose legs were crushed by the ceiling as it collapsed. “I’d like it to end soon but I don’t know how.”In the bed opposite Oleksandr said Ukraine could not do a deal with Russia. He had fallen badly as he escaped the fire from a second-floor window.