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First residents back home after sinkhole nightmare

Getty Images Large sinkhole in street on the drive of one house and into the road, with other homes nearby, barriers in the street.Getty Images
About 30 homes on Nant Morlais in Pant, Merthyr Tydfil, were evacuated on 1 December

Some residents who live next to a huge sinkhole that opened up on a residential street have been allowed home.

After 11 days, Merthyr Tydfil council has begun work to fill the hole and residents of seven houses on Nant Morlais in Pant have been told it is finally safe to return home.

Among the first to return were Sheila and Meurig Price who were relieved to be home after 10 days at their daughter's house.

Merthyr council said it was hopeful all homeowners would be home by the middle of next week, once the hole is filled and utility is restored in the remaining homes.

About 30 homes were evacuated on 1 December with some residents moved to hotels.

Mr Price said it would be "nice to get back home" and get the "heating and television" working again.

He added he was relieved, saying it looked like all residents would be home for Christmas.

"We have been worried but we had a meeting last night with the local authority and they have assured us that it will be safer now than it's ever been," he said.

Merthyr council said on Wednesday that a 6ft (1.8m) steel pipe has been inserted into the existing culvert to support the flow of any overflow water going through it.

The hole was at its largest on Wednesday morning - estimated to be about 40ft (12m) deep and 33ft (10m) - but engineers reiterated the site was now safe.

Engineers now plan to temporarily fill the hole with stone before coming up with a more permanent plan in the new year.

Brent Carter, leader of Merthyr Tydfil council said: "Residents have been fantastic and really supportive. Everyone is desperate to come home for Christmas."

"The site is as secure as it possibly can be. The culvert is in very good shape. Everything is looking good."

Meurig and Sheila Price smile looking at the camera standing on their street. There is a metal barricade behind them which borders the sinkhole making it clear that they are currently unable to return home.
Meurig and Sheila Price have been homeless since a sinkhole opened up
A conveyor lorry is parked on a residential street next to the sinkhole.
A conveyor lorry has been brought in to fill the sinkhole

It emerged on Monday the sinkhole had appeared in front of the family home of former Love Island winner Liam Reardon.

Reardon, who won the 2021 season of the ITV reality show with his partner Millie Court, said it was a "strange, unusual, crazy" experience, adding it was "like we were in a movie".

He said they had to "pack a case quickly and evacuate the house" and have been unable to return.

"Luckily, none of us are injured… but it's a big inconvenience," he said.

The family will now be looking forward to returning home after being left "virtually homeless" in the run-up to Christmas.