Hundreds of residents evacuated from their homes amid fears a dam could burst are becoming “increasingly fed up” after only a small number have so far been allowed to return.

More than 1,500 people have left their homes in Whaley Bridge since Thursday after heavy rain caused the dam to partially collapse.

Those living in about 50 properties in the Horwich End area of the Derbyshire town were told they could return home on Tuesday.

But the remaining residents were told they would have to wait until Wednesday afternoon to find out whether they too could go back.

Derbyshire Police previously said those evacuated from the town must wait until experts decide that Toddbrook Reservoir’s damaged dam is “absolutely safe”.

Toddbrook reservoir dam collapses sparking Whaley Bridge evacuations Show all 18 1 /18 Toddbrook reservoir dam collapses sparking Whaley Bridge evacuations Toddbrook reservoir dam collapses sparking Whaley Bridge evacuations A RAF Chinook helicopter prepares to drop sand bags on to the damaged dam at Toddbrook reservoir in Whaley Bridge. An emergency operation is currently in place to save the market town from severe flooding after heavy rain damaged the dam EPA Toddbrook reservoir dam collapses sparking Whaley Bridge evacuations Engineers and members of the emergency services assess the damaged spillway of the Toddbrook Reservoir dam AFP/Getty Toddbrook reservoir dam collapses sparking Whaley Bridge evacuations A Chinook helicopter prepares to drop sandbags Getty Toddbrook reservoir dam collapses sparking Whaley Bridge evacuations The deserted centre of the town The town's 6,500 people were forced to leave their homes after the partial collapse of the dam AFP/Getty Toddbrook reservoir dam collapses sparking Whaley Bridge evacuations A bag of concrete is thrown onto the damaged Toddbrook Reservoir PA Toddbrook reservoir dam collapses sparking Whaley Bridge evacuations Engineers and members of the emergency services work to pump water from Toddbrook Reservoir AFP/Getty Toddbrook reservoir dam collapses sparking Whaley Bridge evacuations A police drone pilot flies his vehicle above Toddbrook Reservoir AFP/Getty Toddbrook reservoir dam collapses sparking Whaley Bridge evacuations Sandbags to help prevent flooding are stacked up Getty Toddbrook reservoir dam collapses sparking Whaley Bridge evacuations Engineers have been pumping water from the reservoir to reduce the water level Getty Toddbrook reservoir dam collapses sparking Whaley Bridge evacuations epa07754742 Sand bags dropped by a British Royal Air Force (RAF) Chinook helicopter on the damaged area of the dam at Toddbrook reservoir in Whaley Bridge, Derbyshire, Britain, 03 August 2019, in the emergency operation to save the market town from severe flooding. About 1,500 residents of Whaley Bridge, Derbyshire were evacuated on 01 August over fears their town could be flooded after heavy rain damaged the dam holding back the Toddbrook reservoir and there is now a risk it could collapse. EPA/VICKIE FLORES VICKIE FLORES EPA Toddbrook reservoir dam collapses sparking Whaley Bridge evacuations An RAF Chinook helicopter flies in sandbags to help repair the dam at Toddbrook Reservoir that was damaged in heavy rainfall PA Toddbrook reservoir dam collapses sparking Whaley Bridge evacuations Damage caused to the dam wall at Toddbrook Reservoir in Derbyshire following heavy rain in the area fraglast/PA Toddbrook reservoir dam collapses sparking Whaley Bridge evacuations A team of workers are on the scene of the dam wall collapse at Toddbrook Reservoir in Derbyshire PA Toddbrook reservoir dam collapses sparking Whaley Bridge evacuations Damage caused to the dam wall at Toddbrook Reservoir in Derbyshire following heavy rain in the area fraglast/PA Toddbrook reservoir dam collapses sparking Whaley Bridge evacuations Damage caused to the dam wall at Toddbrook Reservoir in Derbyshire following heavy rain in the area fraglast/PA Toddbrook reservoir dam collapses sparking Whaley Bridge evacuations Emergency services arrive in the village of Whaley Brook, which is being evacuated as the dam wall of the nearby Toddbrook Reservoir was damaged in heavy rainfall PA Toddbrook reservoir dam collapses sparking Whaley Bridge evacuations Police officers are on the scene in Whaley Bridge to advise residents to evacuate their homes PA Toddbrook reservoir dam collapses sparking Whaley Bridge evacuations A roadblock is put in place at Whaley Lane, the entrance to the village of Whaley Bridge, Derbyshire. The town is at threat from the dam wall collapse at the nearby Toddbrook Reservoir PA

Representatives of the police and Environment agency said a safe water level had been reached after about 17 per cent of the reservoir’s capacity was pumped out.

Derbyshire Police Deputy Chief Constable Rachel Swann told a public meeting on Tuesday: “I have got a meeting at 12pm tomorrow where I am expecting we will have good news.

“We have obviously been pumping the water out and it has gone down at a fast speed. It is now beyond 9.5 metres. We will keep draining the water until it is safe to stop.

“What we need to do is just to check the reservoir is fit for when it rains again and we have got a yellow weather warning.”

Ms Swann acknowledged that residents had become “increasingly fed up” but thanked them for their co-operation and reassured them that security measures were still in force after reports of burglaries and prowlers.

Resident John Lomas, who has been able to return home, said: “It’s great to be back home. All the services guys have done an excellent job, I’m very proud of them all.”

Another returning resident, Melissa Broxup, said the last few days had been “an absolute nightmare”.

She added: “I’ve not been able to go anywhere and Whaley is so quiet. Everyone in Whaley has been amazing. It’s not easy.”

Asked what it was like to be one of the first to be let back in, she said: “It’s great. I can finally get some sleep. I just can’t wait to get back in my flat.

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“I’m happy but on the other side I’m gutted for those who can’t come back.”

An RAF Chinook was again drafted in on Tuesday to help the previously dropped bags of aggregate settle into place.

Wing Commander Gary Lane, RAF regional liaison Officer for the North West, said about 100 military personnel had been brought in to help with the dam.

Ms Swann said all cordons would be lifted and roads would return to normal once the remaining residents are given the green light to return home.