Aerial video footage shows a sinkhole which has opened up on a residential street in the Hertfordshire town of St Albans, north of London, forcing the overnight evacuation of families from their homes early today.

Hertfordshire County Council said in a statement that the hole on Fontmell Close measured around 20 metres by 20 metres  and was approximately 10 metres deep.

The council's Resilience Team and Fire and Rescue Service were called at 1230GMT and continue to work with Hertfordshire Constabulary and St Albans City and District Council.

A reception centre for residents was set up at Batchwood Leisure Centre, St Albans. Five households, in total 20 people, were evacuated.

No-one has been injured and no house has been damaged, the county council statement said.

Fifty-two properties in the area are without gas, electric and water, while engineers assess the situation before the crater is filled in.

Hertfordshire County Council said they were previously informed about a hole in the footpath and work was scheduled to fill it today. A prior inspection found there was no reason to suspect that the hole would collapse.

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