RESIDENTS were evacuated from their homes when the car park behind their houses started collapsing into a river.

The car park of Hodder Bridge Court, near Chaigley, began to slide down a 40ft bank into the raging River Hodder early yesterday.

Three houses at the holiday development were evacuated as Norweb workmen struggled in driving rain to secure a 30ft pylon that was teetering on the edge of the precipice.

Landowner Stan Ainsworth rushed back from a holiday in Tenerife to deal with the problem.

"A two-inch crack appeared in the car park about a week ago, but we rushed back from holiday to find this," he said.

"It's horrendous. Half the car park has just disappeared into the river."

A 10ft section of the bank collapsed into the river, taking with it a huge chunk of the car park, several mature trees and pylons.

The three houses were evacuated as a precautionary measure, although it is not yet known if they have been seriously damaged.

Mr Ainsworth said there had never been a landslide at the site that he knew of and it may have been caused by excessive rain.

"The Hodder is very high and fast-flowing. We are working hard to make everything safe and, as far as we know, the houses haven't been damaged.

"People were moved from the properties as a safety precaution and I don't know when they will return.

"Our immediate concern are the telegraph poles, which have been left in a very dangerous state," he said.

Resident Jo Sharples, who lives in a part of the development unaffected by the landslide, said : "It just hasn't stopped raining. The river is very high and the car park seems to have collapsed into it. It's unbelievable." Norweb engineer Keith Shephard said removing the unstable pylons was going to be a very tricky job.

"They're balanced on the edge of the precipice. I've never seen anything like it.

"We may have to cut the wires and let them topple over," he said.

Homes at Hodder Bridge Court, formerly the Hodder Bridge Hotel, are being supplied with electricity from a temporary generator until the mains are reconnected.

The road past the development has been reduced to one lane of traffic while repair work is carried out.

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