Work to fill the 10m sinkhole in St Albans has already cost an estimated £100,000.

Engineers have pumped in 48 lorry loads of foamed concrete over four days which amounts to nearly 6,700 bathtubs full.

Experts are monitoring the site in Fontmell Close using specialist equipment to test for any movement.

Electricity, water, sewerage and telephone services have now been restored to the majority of the fifty homes affected by the sinkhole which appeared on Thursday, October 1.

Underground surveys of the surrounding road and footway continue and the next steps will be for utility companies to make permanent repairs ahead of the road being resurfaced.

Richard Thake, the county council's cabinet member for community safety, said: “All agencies are continuing to work together to get residents back to their homes as soon as it is safe to do so. Our priority remains to ensure the safety of residents in the area and minimise disruption and to resolve the situation as soon as possible. I’d like to thank everyone living in the area for their understanding during this difficult time.”