A 66ft (20m) sinkhole has opened up on a residential street in St Albans, forcing the evacuation of families in the area.
The giant hole spreads across the driveway and front garden of a property on Fontmell Close and is 33ft (10m) deep.
Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said at least 10 people have been evacuated to Batchwood Leisure Centre. More than 50 properties are without gas and electricity, according to a fire service spokeswoman. (PA)
Attracting attention of police
A dim-witted shoplifter was caught after going to a police station to complain about the circulation of his CCTV image.
Roofer Nicholas Allegretto was filmed by security cameras installed in the Mackays hardware store in Cambridge after stealing an industrial magnet.
The store put up his picture with his face obscured and the image was later posted on Facebook and printed in the Cambridge News newspaper. Instead of lying low, the 23-year-old went to the city’s Parkside police station, angry that the picture had been published. He was arrested and prosecuted. (PA)
Wedding crashers are invited
Inspired by the popular movie Wedding Crashers, a Florida couple is asking strangers to attend their wedding next month.
Lee County sheriff’s deputy Paul Johnson and Shelly Osterhout are hosting the October 10 wedding at an outdoor shopping centre. The couple, who met online, are promising an unforgettable surprise for up to 1,600 guests.
The couple, who will honeymoon in Washington DC and Manhattan, say they are looking forward to the surprise of seeing who attends, both new friends and old ones. (PA)
Bees swarm after lorry overturns
A lorry carrying honey bees overturned on a busy Oklahoma interstate, sending a swarm of insects onto the motorway that was visible half a mile away.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol said the accident on Interstate 35 happened near Pauls Valley, about 60 miles south of Oklahoma City. Lawton TV station KSWO reports that witnesses reported seeing the bees from about half a mile away. The station says the lorry’s driver was treated and released from hospital with minor injuries. (PA)
Hunt for robber with nice nails
Police are seeking a robbery suspect with nice nails. They say a man got a manicure at a nail salon on West Rockland Street in Philadelphia and then robbed the place at gunpoint.
Surveillance video shows the suspect grabbing money from one worker and then taking more cash from the till. No one was injured in the incident. (PA)
Wisconsin refutes deer hoax
Wisconsin wildlife officials have taken to social media to refute a hoax letter that suggested they had mistakenly added deer lawn ornaments to the last two annual statewide deer tallies.
The state's Department of Natural Resources said on Facebook that several residents recently received a letter telling them to remove concrete deer ornaments from their yards by November 1 so they are not counted again this year. (Reuters)
Scientists look for clues in poo
Belgian researchers are examining the excrement of giant pandas to try to understand how they can digest tough bamboo, hoping for clues on how to develop new generations of biofuel.
The genetic make-up of endangered pandas is that of a carnivore but the animals have adapted to a diet consisting almost exclusively of bamboo. (Reuters)