Work has stopped on filling Britain’s biggest sinkhole on a residential estate, because Storm Darragh made it too dangerous to continue.
Evacuated residents of Nant Morlais in the village of Pant, near Merthyr Tydfil have been prevented from moving back onto their bungalows until the storm has passed.
Security was tight and no one was allowed within 100 yards of the 50ft-deep hole, which is slowly getting bigger.
But one couple was allowed to briefly return to their home to get clothes and toys for their children.
Locals said thousands of gallons of rainwater was feeding the collapsed culvert every minute and emergency pumps could not cope.
But there was praise for Merthyr Tydfil Council and locals for their strong community spirit by helping victims of the sinkhole which appeared out of nowhere a week ago.
Plasterer Huw Hodges, 65, and his wife Sharon have moved into an Airbnb nearby while the estate they’ve lived on for 30 years is made safe.
Father-of-one Huw said: ‘My next door neighbour’s son was the first to see the sinkhole and put a hi-vis jacket over the spot to warn people.
‘The council was called and cordoned it off – since then it’s just got bigger and it’s now up to 50 feet deep.
‘The houses were built around the culvert, so long term I’m not too worried.
‘But I don’t know when we will be able to move back in – hopefully it will be before Christmas.’
Asked who was paying for his Airbnb after being forced out of his home, Mr Hodges said: ‘We don’t know the answer to that yet, we will have to see what happens.’
A statement by Merthyr Council said: ‘Due to the current weather conditions, the water level within the culvert has risen and Welsh Water have had to pause their works for a crane to be moved onsite to carry out the urgent stabilisation works.
‘The water pumps working to divert the flow of the river are also struggling to cope.
‘As of this morning, the sinkhole has increased in size.
‘Unfortunately, this means that we are no longer in a position to allow householders from the lower end of the cul-de-sac to return home safely, possibly until early next week.
‘However, this timeline will be heavily reliant on weather conditions over the weekend.’
Retired BT engineer Keith Davies, 61, said the stream leading into the collapsed culvert was now a torrent due to Storm Darragh.
He said: ‘There’s a hell of a flow coming off the mountain – the rain has been incredible. You can hear it, there’s thousands of gallons a minute going through.
‘They put in pumps to take the pressure off the culvert – there are pipes running over the main road, it’s like a by-pass for the water.
‘But the pumps can’t cope and they won’t let anyone move in until the rain stops and it’s safe.’
Questions are being asked about the last time the culvert was properly inspected and the local rumour mill says it could be as far back as 2008.
Two huge yellow cranes were next to the sinkhole along with huge concrete blocks which engineers hope to lower into the cavernous hole to control the water flooding through.
Groundwork Mark Jones, 62, who lives 200 yards away, said: ‘Everyone feels sorry for the people who have had to move out, but I believe everything that can be done is being done.
‘This weather isn’t helping – if there’s one thing you don’t want when a sinkhole appears it is torrential rain.’
Beth Johnson, 58, the nearest resident to the sinkhole not to be evacuated told : ‘I have been reassured that we are safe here but it’s been worrying.
‘For us it’s the noise of the work and the lights at night. But they’ve stopped work now, because of the weather.’
Merthyr Council is expected to put out a further statement on Saturday.