Parents in a quiet Calne street are furious that a manhole cover has not been replaced more than a month after it disappeared – leaving a gaping hole in the road.

People living in Lake View said the cover went missing more than four weeks ago, in a corner of the cul-de-sac where many children play.

Despite informing Wiltshire Council weeks ago nothing has been done.

Dad Brendan Moloney, 41, said: “It was there one minute and gone the next. There were some wagons doing some work down here and I think they may have taken it off and forgotten to replace it.

“I have got four boys and my little one is always out there playing. It was actually when him and his friend were playing in the street that I noticed it.

“They were right next to it and I glanced across and saw it was open. They were taking no notice of it but I guess they wouldn’t know the seriousness. If one of them fell down there head first, that’s it.

“It is quite a dangerous thing really because all of the children play around there.”

Mr Moloney, who lives in Lake View, phoned the council but was told the maintenance of the road was not their responsibility, as it had not yet been adopted from developer David Wilson Homes.

He said: “I was stunned that they wouldn’t come out immediately and cover it up. If someone fell down there and seriously hurt themselves they would be in real trouble. There doesn’t seem to be any urgency about it.”

So he has taken it upon himself to lay two heavy timber blocks over the hole, a solution which brings its own problems.

“I am a bit worried about even doing that, because someone could trip over them and you can get sued for anything these days.”

Fellow parent Kim Grimmer, 40, said: “We have three children, aged two, five and eight, so the concern is that there is this great big hole in the road.

“Most houses around here have children and we are lucky enough to live in this peaceful cul-de-sac so the children are able to play outside.

“Even though she isn’t allowed to play outside alone, my little girl could easily fall in to it. It is so dangerous.”

Wiltshire Council said the road was the responsibility of the developer and that the council would usually pass on any concerns.

Managing director Kelvin Tutill said this was the first report David Wilson Homes had received about a missing manhole cover. The position was being checked and, if it was found to responsible, the company would replace the manhole cover.