Now the Earth opens up: 5 foot gullies across Devon (UK) fields

Divided: Severe soil erosion on a steep field in Sampford Peverell, Devon, that was said to have contained too few crops prior to heavy winter rain

Now the earth opens up: 5ft gullies across Devon fields after torrential rain washes away soil

Pictures taken in Devon village show severe soil erosion on steep field

Said to have been caused by gully erosion on land with little vegetation

Martin Hughes-Jones took photographs of scene in Sampford Peverell

Two sides to the story: Images of the eroded landscape near Tiverton - with gullies more than 5ft deep - were taken yesterday by local photographer Martin Hughes-Jones

There are five types of topsoil erosion caused by water, but gully erosion is believed to have occurred in this case. This is when water erodes soil to form channels deeper than 1ft.

These gullies start when fast-flowing runoff water hits a ‘nick’ point such as a rabbit burrow, or bare soil - and the water then scours away the soil. It often happens on cleared soils with little vegetation.