A massive sinkhole has opened up on a street in St Albans, according to international reports.

The sinkhole forced the evacuation of several families from their homes in the night.

The 20m diameter hole spread across a front garden and driveway on Fontmell Close and is 10m deep, and the Hertfordshire County Council has said that 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 and 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 to say the hole had "opened up substantially" overnight.

"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.

"Work was scheduled to fill it in this morning. Following our inspection, there was no reason to suspect that the hole would collapse."

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, adding that no-one had been injured and no homes were damaged.