Residents in a Hertfordshire cul-de-sac were forced to evacuate after a huge sinkhole opened up inches from their homes.
People living on Fontmell Close, St Albans were faced with the gaping 10-metre deep hole, next to their driveways today.
Gas and electricity supplies were switched off to 52 homes as fire crews evacuated and secured the area, Hertfordshire Fire Control said.
The fire service shared a photograph of the hole on its Twitter feed today, prompting a flurry of shocked comments.
One tweeter said: "Being caught in a sinkhole is my worst nightmare".
Cat Lennon said: "This is crazy! So close to the houses too."
And another Twitter user simply posted: "The end is near".
Hertfordshire County Council said there was already a smaller hole in the road which contractors had been called to fill before it expanded at about 1.30am today.
Richard Thake, cabinet member for community safety, said: “Our priority is to ensure the safety of residents in the area and minimise disruption and to resolve the situation as soon as possible.”
Sinkholes are caused by an erosion of a rock's surface layer, often by water.
