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| Sinkhole opens up on street in St Albans | Sinkhole opens up on street in St Albans |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| A massive sinkhole has opened up on a street in St Albans, forcing the evacuation of several families from their homes in the night. | A massive sinkhole has opened up on a street in St Albans, forcing the evacuation of several families from their homes in the night. |
| The 66ft (20m) diameter hole spread across a front garden and driveway on Fontmell Close and is 33ft (10m) deep. | The 66ft (20m) diameter hole spread across a front garden and driveway on Fontmell Close and is 33ft (10m) deep. |
| Hertfordshire County Council said five homes were evacuated and 20 people were taken to a centre set up at the nearby Batchwood Sports Centre. | |
| Residents are said to have heard a crash before the huge crater appeared. | Residents are said to have heard a crash before the huge crater appeared. |
| Live updates: Hole opened up 'substantially overnight' | Live updates: Hole opened up 'substantially overnight' |
| A spokesman for the fire service said it was previously aware of a small hole that was due to be filled in. | A spokesman for the fire service said it was previously aware of a small hole that was due to be filled in. |
| Firefighters received a call at 01:30 BST to say the hole had "opened up substantially" overnight. | Firefighters received a call at 01:30 BST to say the hole had "opened up substantially" overnight. |
| A Hertfordshire County Council spokesman said: "We were informed about a hole in the footpath last week. It was inspected and barriers put around it on Monday. | A Hertfordshire County Council spokesman said: "We were informed about a hole in the footpath last week. It was inspected and barriers put around it on Monday. |
| "Work was scheduled to fill it in this morning. Following our inspection, there was no reason to suspect that the hole would collapse." | "Work was scheduled to fill it in this morning. Following our inspection, there was no reason to suspect that the hole would collapse." |
| Steve Lynch, who lives nearby, told the BBC's Tony Fisher a postman stepped in the smaller hole. | Steve Lynch, who lives nearby, told the BBC's Tony Fisher a postman stepped in the smaller hole. |
| He said: "My wife saw the local postman pulling himself pretty much out of the hole and dusting himself down... he was rolling around on the street looking quite badly injured." | He said: "My wife saw the local postman pulling himself pretty much out of the hole and dusting himself down... he was rolling around on the street looking quite badly injured." |
| Highways engineers are currently assessing the scene before the crater is filled in. | Highways engineers are currently assessing the scene before the crater is filled in. |
| Fifty-two homes in the area were without gas, electricity and water, including residents on nearby Bridal Close. | Fifty-two homes in the area were without gas, electricity and water, including residents on nearby Bridal Close. |
| "The return to normal is likely to take weeks and all agencies in Hertfordshire are working together to support families affected," the council spokesman said. | "The return to normal is likely to take weeks and all agencies in Hertfordshire are working together to support families affected," the council spokesman said. |
| He added no-one had been injured and no homes were damaged. | He added no-one had been injured and no homes were damaged. |