Engineers have started filling the 20m by 20m sinkhole which opened up in Fontmell Close at around 1am yesterday morning.

At this time, Hertfordshire County Council is unable to say exactly how long it will take place, but estimates it will probably take several days

An emergency access road was created for residents to get their cars out through a playing field behind the site.

Batchwood Hall was set up as an emergency base yesterday for five households who were told to evacuate their homes.

Yesterday, 34 people attended the centre.

The centre closed at 9pm last night and reopened at 6am this morning to allow a couple of people who visited to shower.

Some residents are believed to have stayed in hotels overnight while some remained at home.

Other residents are staying with friends and family or their insurance companies have made arrangements for them.

Today the street is much quieter, with most people at the scene engineers.

Fontmell Close remains cordoned off and part of Seymour Road is still closed.

Hertfordshire County Council has published a video showing the current state of the sinkhole: