Families evacuated after landslide causes 70ft wall to collapse into their gardens
Five families were forced to flee their homes in the middle of the night after pouring rain caused a landslide of tonnes of rubble into their gardens.
The terrified residents were woken by the sound of bricks and earth collapsing into their gardens after a 70ft (21m) wall collapsed in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Emergency services rescued the families from four separate properties in Sneinton, Nottingham, as their bathrooms and kitchens flooded during the torrential downpour.
Shocking images show the crumbled wall lying inches from the houses and piles of rubble blocking a stairway between the two roads.
Nottinghamshire Police said no-one was injured and the families who were evacuated returned to their homes at 6am the same day.
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Inspector Charlotte Allardice said: “Emergency services were called from distressed residents following a report of a landslide in Spalding Road and Windmill Lane, St Ann's at around 1am this morning.
“They needed assistance with somewhere to stay overnight. They returned to their homes at around 6am having spent time with their neighbours.
“Roads close to the incident had to be closed until the area was deemed to be safe.”
She said the force was working with the local council to respond to the situation.
Nottingham City Council said it was sending structural engineers to evaluate the damage caused by the collapsed wall.
A local authority spokesperson said: “We are aware of this incident and are supporting the police in their efforts to help affected residents.
“All residents in affected properties were safely evacuated nearby and we have arranged for temporary accommodation to be made available this morning for residents who need it.
“We have arranged for structural engineers to attend to assess damage to the properties from the wall collapse.”
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