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BUTTE- New details have been unearthed recently about a growing sinkhole in a Butte backyard.

In Charlene Preston's backyard sits a large sink hole that appeared nearly one year ago, but the county recently discovered this could be a century old problem.

Tom Malloy, reclamation manager with public works, has been examining the sinkhole. On his fourth visit to Prestons' home he discovered something nearly two feet down.

The plate appears to be 2' wide, ¼" thick and there several dozen bricks. Malloy is unsure what it is, but he's seen this before.

"It's fairly common that we see out houses and septic systems and small holes in people backyards because 100 years ago there was a lot of outhouses and back yard septic tanks," he said.

Malloy says it is now Preston's responsibility to keep this hole from sinking, and that could cost her several thousand dollars.

Until any action is taken to fill this hole the area remains dangerous. The county insists that if you find any sinkholes especially in the uptown area that you contact public works right away.

Charlene Preston was contacted for this story but declined comment.