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| Surrey: Massive sinkhole appears in street in Godstone | Surrey: Massive sinkhole appears in street in Godstone |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Huge sinkhole appears in high street | Huge sinkhole appears in high street |
| Families have described a "terrifying" evacuation as a massive sinkhole appeared in their street, cutting off water supplies and swallowing at least one property's garden. | |
| The hole first appeared in Godstone High Street, Surrey, late on Monday night, growing to at least 65ft (20m) by Tuesday lunchtime. | The hole first appeared in Godstone High Street, Surrey, late on Monday night, growing to at least 65ft (20m) by Tuesday lunchtime. |
| Shortly after 00:30 GMT on Tuesday, police told people living in William Way, Godstone, to "get out as quickly as possible" over fears of an explosion caused by exposed cables. | Shortly after 00:30 GMT on Tuesday, police told people living in William Way, Godstone, to "get out as quickly as possible" over fears of an explosion caused by exposed cables. |
| One resident, who moved in less than a week ago, said he was forced to sleep in his car, while another returned to find his back garden falling into the hole. | One resident, who moved in less than a week ago, said he was forced to sleep in his car, while another returned to find his back garden falling into the hole. |
| Police said road closures would be in place for some time and confirmed that a small number of buildings have been evacuated as a precaution. | Police said road closures would be in place for some time and confirmed that a small number of buildings have been evacuated as a precaution. |
| A Surrey Highways spokesperson advised people to avoid the area. | A Surrey Highways spokesperson advised people to avoid the area. |
| Drone images show the extent of the damage caused by the sinkhole | Drone images show the extent of the damage caused by the sinkhole |
| Rez Mira and his family had to leave his home in the early hours of Tuesday morning and stayed with relatives. | Rez Mira and his family had to leave his home in the early hours of Tuesday morning and stayed with relatives. |
| He returned to find his garden falling into the sinkhole. | He returned to find his garden falling into the sinkhole. |
| "It's collapsed, the wall will come down, for sure," he said. | "It's collapsed, the wall will come down, for sure," he said. |
| "We're just terrified. We have to figure out where to live now. Next week school is going back and we have to find somewhere close by." | "We're just terrified. We have to figure out where to live now. Next week school is going back and we have to find somewhere close by." |
| Rez Mira spent the night with relatives in Croydon but says he has to find somewhere closer | Rez Mira spent the night with relatives in Croydon but says he has to find somewhere closer |
| SES Water said it was aware of a burst water main in Godstone High Street in the early hours of Tuesday morning, which was affecting water supply to homes in the area. | SES Water said it was aware of a burst water main in Godstone High Street in the early hours of Tuesday morning, which was affecting water supply to homes in the area. |
| Teams had been deployed to carry out urgent work, a spokesperson for the company said. | Teams had been deployed to carry out urgent work, a spokesperson for the company said. |
| Rez Mira returned to his house to find the garden disappearing into the sinkhole | Rez Mira returned to his house to find the garden disappearing into the sinkhole |
| Robin Sherry said police told him and his family "to get out as quick as possible" over fears of an explosion caused by exposed cables. | Robin Sherry said police told him and his family "to get out as quick as possible" over fears of an explosion caused by exposed cables. |
| "I booked a hotel down the road, but I know some people stayed in their car and some people went to families," he said. | "I booked a hotel down the road, but I know some people stayed in their car and some people went to families," he said. |
| Godstone High Street has been closed after a large sinkhole opened in the road | Godstone High Street has been closed after a large sinkhole opened in the road |
| Local resident Paul Whelan described how quickly the sinkhole developed, after pictures were initially posted on social media at about 23:00 on Monday. | Local resident Paul Whelan described how quickly the sinkhole developed, after pictures were initially posted on social media at about 23:00 on Monday. |
| "A hole maybe a couple of feet across started up," he told BBC Radio Surrey. "Now it's grown quite a lot after the burst water main." | "A hole maybe a couple of feet across started up," he told BBC Radio Surrey. "Now it's grown quite a lot after the burst water main." |
| Heavy machinery had been brought in to Godstone High Street on Tuesday morning | Heavy machinery had been brought in to Godstone High Street on Tuesday morning |
| Josh Neame had only been living in his property for six days when he was evacuated, and spent the night sleeping in his car parked by the local green. | Josh Neame had only been living in his property for six days when he was evacuated, and spent the night sleeping in his car parked by the local green. |
| "They've just let me in now - over my shoulder is a bag of toiletries, pants and socks to get me through," he said. | "They've just let me in now - over my shoulder is a bag of toiletries, pants and socks to get me through," he said. |
| "I don't know what's going to come from here, no-one can give me any info. They said it could be up to a week before we're back in. I don't think they know what state the mains gas and electric's in, so it was risk of explosion, fire, collapse. | "I don't know what's going to come from here, no-one can give me any info. They said it could be up to a week before we're back in. I don't think they know what state the mains gas and electric's in, so it was risk of explosion, fire, collapse. |
| "My life's still in boxes, I hadn't even unpacked from the house move. | "My life's still in boxes, I hadn't even unpacked from the house move. |
| "Not what you wanted on a Monday night." | "Not what you wanted on a Monday night." |
| The sinkhole appeared late on Monday night | The sinkhole appeared late on Monday night |
| Matt Furniss, Surrey County Council's cabinet member for highways, said by 09:30 GMT on Tuesday the hole had grown to 65ft (20m) by 20ft (6m). | Matt Furniss, Surrey County Council's cabinet member for highways, said by 09:30 GMT on Tuesday the hole had grown to 65ft (20m) by 20ft (6m). |
| "At this stage, we're working with the utility companies. Our key aim at the moment is to secure the sight and make it safe," he said. | "At this stage, we're working with the utility companies. Our key aim at the moment is to secure the sight and make it safe," he said. |
| Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, on X. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. | Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, on X. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. |