A 35ft wide sink hole has opened up in a suburban cul-de-sac, forcing homeowners to flee their properties. <br /><br />Police officers cordoned off the road after the crater appeared at 7.30am following weeks of torrid rain and 17 homes were evacuated. <br /><br />The sinkhole measured 35ft wide and 20ft deep in Oatridge Gardens, Hemel Hempstead, Herts, according to police. <br /><br />A force spokesman said: "The hole, which is in a residential cul de sac, has mainly affected the road. <br /><br />"However, seventeen properties have been evacuated for the safety of residents in the area. <br /><br />"The hole is approximately 35ft wide and 20ft deep. <br /><br />"Police are working with partner agencies, including Dacorum Borough Council, specialist structural engineers and utilities companies to assess the situation. <br /><br />"The road, and surrounding roads, have been closed for the safety of residents and whilst agencies work at the scene."<br /><br /><br /><br />Get the latest headlines http://www.telegraph.co.uk/<br /><br />Subscribe to The Telegraph http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=telegraphtv<br /><br />Like us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/telegraph.co.uk<br />Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/telegraph<br />Follow us on Google+ https://plus.google.com/102891355072777008500/<br /><br />Telegraph.co.uk and YouTube.com/TelegraphTV are websites of The Daily Telegraph, the UK's best-selling quality daily newspaper providing news and analysis on UK and world events, business, sport, lifestyle and culture.
