Sinkhole road residents can go home for Christmas

Extensive temporary repair work has seen the hole finally filled in with stone

The last residents of a street where a giant sinkhole appeared have been told they can now return home.

About 30 homes were evacuated in Nant Morlais in Pant, Merthyr Tydfil, at the start of December when the 33ft (10m) wide, 40ft (12m) deep crater opened up at the bottom of one drive.

Families had to be moved to hotels or stay with relatives, with many fearing they would not be back before Christmas.

But Merthyr Tydfil council has now confirmed that the sinkhole has been filled in with stone following extensive temporary repair work.

"We are pleased to confirm that the void at Nant Morlais has now been filled, utilities have been restored and the remaining residents are being allowed home today," the council said on Wednesday.

"We are now working with contractors for a permanent solution and will share more information on this in the new year."

It emerged earlier this month that the home most directly affected by the sinkhole belonged to the family of former Love Island winner Liam Reardon.

Reardon, who won the 2021 season of the ITV reality show with his partner Millie Court, said at the time it was a "strange, unusual, crazy" experience, "like we were in a movie".

A section of garden wall fell into a massive sinkhole on 2 December, just as one man was being interviewed by BBC Wales nearby.

Some residents living far enough from the hole had already started returning home about a week ago.

Among them were Sheila and Meurig Price, who were relieved to be home after 10 days at their daughter's house.