Sinkhole opens up on street in St Albans Published duration 1 October 2015

media caption Aerial footage shows the scale of the sinkhole

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.

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.

A spokesman for the fire service said it was previously aware of a small hole that was due to be filled in.

image copyright Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service image caption The giant hole opened up during the night

image copyright South Beds News Agency image caption Council teams were called to the cul de sac collapse at 01:30 BST

image copyright South Beds News Agency image caption Fontmell Close was closed off around the hole

Firefighters received a call at 01:30 BST to say the hole had "opened up substantially" overnight.

Pregnant evacuee

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."

Heavily pregnant Gemma Bagshaw, 32, is expecting to give birth any day now and she was woken by the sound of the noise.

image copyright South Beds News Agency image caption Pregnant Gemma Bagshaw said: "If this doesn't bring on my labour then nothing will."

She and her husband Ben left their house clutching her hospital notes and bag that was packed in readiness for a trip to hospital.

"We were asleep when we were awoken by this awful rumbling sound like an earthquake," she said.

"Ben jumped out of bed and got to the window, then I heard him say 'The road has gone.

"If this doesn't bring on my labour then nothing will."

'Take weeks'

Steve Lynch, who lives nearby, told BBC journalist Tony Fisher a postman had 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."

Highways engineers are currently assessing the scene before the crater is filled in.

image caption A reception centre for residents was set up at the Batchwood Sports Centre in St Albans

Fifty-two homes in the area were without gas, electricity and water, including residents on nearby Bridle 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.