Families were evacuated from their homes in he middle of the night after a massive sinkhole opened up in the middle of a quiet street.
This dramatic footage shows how the giant hole which is 66ft (20 metres) wide and around 33ft (10 metres) deep has spread across the front garden of a property on Fontmell Close in St Albans.
A Hertfordshire County Council spokesman admitted that it had been informed a " small " sinkhole had opened up in the street on Monday and they they had planned to repair it on Thursday.
It was thought the hole was caused by a small water leak and the spokesman said there had been "no reason" to suspect it would get any bigger.
Hertfordshire County Council said 20 people, including five families, were evacuated to nearby Batchwood Sports Club at 3.15am on Thursday.
Gas, water and electricity supplies have been cut-off to 52 homes in the area.
More than 50 properties are without gas and electricity, according to a fire service spokeswoman.
It was due to be filled in, but the fire service later received a call to say the sinkhole had opened up substantially over night.
Families reported hearing a crash ‘in the middle of the night’ and looked out to see the road had collapsed.
John Hudnott, watch commander at St Albans Fire Service said: “They had a sink hole in Hemel this year or last but I’ve never seen one like this.”
Julie Langford, who lives on Fontmell Close, has told Sky News how she couldn’t take her car out of the driveway to head to work on Thursday morning.
She estimates there are 40 houses in the cul-de-sac and she says all neighbours have had their cars blocked in by the sinkhole.
Ms Langford has been warned it could take months for the road is fully repaired.
She said: "I can't walk to work – I have an hour's commute in the morning. The children can walk to school, but when you're a mum with four children it's not easy."
A Herts Police spokesman said: "Six houses in St Albans have currently been evacuated following the emergence of a sink hole.
"It was reported to police at around 1.20am. The hole is currently around eight by 10 metres in size and thought to be several metres deep, and incorporates the driveway of one of the properties.
"Residents have been evacuated as a precaution and all utility services are being checked and turned off.
"A reception centre has been set up for the residents who have been evacuated from their homes at Batchwood. There is currently no access for vehicles to the close."
The emergency services, along with staff from the local council, were meeting to discuss what measures must be taken over the hole.
Sinkholes usually occur when water erosion underground causes huge cavities.
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