Pictures from the scene showed the Toyota trapped nose-first in the sinkhole on a residential road in Brentwood, Essex, with the driver and passenger doors wide open and both airbags inflated.

It is believed that the car was being driven on the road when the sinkhole opened up, although the driver is said to have escaped uninjured.

Firefighters were called to Hatch Road, in the Pilgrims Hatch area, shortly after 1.30am on Monday following reports that a sewer had partially collapsed.

The Toyota car was removed by a tow truck. Picture: PA

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said crews reported that the hole had extended into the road and a car was trapped.

Six properties were evacuated in the early hours of the morning due to unstable ground.

The fire service said they worked to make the scene safe by 3.53am, before handing the scene over to Anglian Water.

An Anglian Water spokesman said: "We are currently on site on Hatch Road, Pilgrims Hatch, in Brentwood investigating a sink hole which has opened up in the road.

A motorist made a miracle escape after their car was swallowed by a sinkhole. Picture: SWNS

"We are working with other utilities (water and gas) plus the local police to assess if any of our pipes have been damaged."

The process of removing the vehicle from the hole, thought to be about two metres deep, began shortly before midday on Monday.

Storm Ciara brought a month and a half's rainfall in just 24 hours as gusts of more than 90 miles per hour swept across the country on Sunday.

Thousands of people were left without power, some homes were evacuated, buildings were damaged and sporting fixtures postponed.

Storm Ciara: Incredible pictures show moment sinkhole swallowed car in wild weather