Residents have been left 'living on the edge of a cliff' and fear their homes could be lost after a giant landslide began slowly destroying their gardens. <br /><br />Locals in the landlocked Black Country town of Cradley Heath say they feel like they're living by the coast after their gardens began crumbling into a huge chasm. <br /><br />The massive landslip gets bigger every time it rains and destroyed multiple trees and two sheds in the last year along High Haden Crescent. <br /><br />Recent bad weather has seen even more land crumbling away leaving homeowners <br />worried for the safety of their families. <br /> <br />John Hingley, 42, has seen the expanding landslip get worse year-by-year since since moving into his home a decade ago.<br /><br />He said: "I've seen trees disappear looking out my bedroom window, and I've seen two sheds disappear too.<br /><br />"And it keeps getting worse, two days ago it got even bigger and even closer to my land.<br /><br />"When it rains the land turns into clay and chunks just fall down the slope."<br /><br />Residents claim the land started collapsing when a factory was built over 30 years ago but John had no knowledge when he bought the house.<br /><br />John added: "I didn't know anything about it until a neighbour knocked my door after we moved in and told us about the problem.<br /><br />"I've got workmen in and they all say the job is just too big for them or their company to deal with.<br /><br />"A lot of my neighbours are elderly so can't do anything for themselves which makes it all the more difficult for me to try and fight it off on my own.<br /><br />"People who have lived round here years reckon the land started to slide when the factory was built down the bottom.<br /><br />"But for years it stayed the same but then over last few years it has just got bigger and bigger.<br /><br />"We have contacted councillors, the MP, you name it but never seem to find out who's fault it is and who is liable."<br /><br />Residents are trying to find out who is responsible for the land and Sandwell Council are aware of the situation.<br /><br />Another homeowner Henry Robinson, 55, added: "It feels like you're living by the coast and one of those people worried about their house falling into the sea. <br /><br />"There you sort of know what you're getting into but we couldn't be further away from the sea in the West Midlands, so it's been a real shock and a concern. <br /><br />"I don't let my grandkids play out near the bottom of the garden, it's just too dangerous. <br /><br />"I'm worried it will reach our homes or at least destroy our entire gardens and something needs to be done about it."<br /><br />Cradley Heath and Old Hill Councillor Vicki Smith said: "I can understand why residents are worried because it keeps getting bigger. <br /><br />"It looks like they are living on the edge of a cliff the hole is so deep.<br /><br />"We are trying to find out what can be done for them. <br /><br />"As it is behind gardens and not openly viewable people do not understand just how big the problem is."
