A sinkhole has opened up in a St Albans cul-de-sac, forcing the evacuation of several families from their homes.
Homes in Fontmell Close in St Albans
A Hertfordshire County Council spokesman said that a "small hole" was due to be filled in by the Fire and Rescue Service that morning: "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."
However, firefighters were called at 01:30 BST because the hole had "opened up substantially" overnight, spreading across gardens and driveways.
Rad Bristow, a fire service spokesman, told Sky News: "When the crews arrived, they were confronted with a large sinkhole which was around 20m wide and 10m deep."
Once the safety of the scene was assured, residents were evacuated and taken to a centre set up at the nearby Batchwood Sports Centre.
Fifty-two homes in the area were without gas, electricity and water, including residents on nearby Bridal Close.
Although no-one had been injured and no homes were damaged, residents expressed concerns about commuting to work and school, since most of their vehicles were blocked in by the sinkhole.
"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.