A giant 45ft-deep crater that left a Love Island winner ‘homeless‘ has finally been filled in following a £4million repair.
Nearly 30 houses were evacuated in December last year after the chasm opened up during stormy weather at a cul-de-sac in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales.
Liam Reardon, who starred on Love Island in 2021 with girlfriend Millie Court, said his family was forced to move when the hole appeared in front of his home, swallowing his driveway.
Following 10 months of substantial engineering work the sinkhole has now been plugged with 300 tonnes of concrete and 3,000 tonnes of stone.
Dubbed the ‘biggest engineering job’ in south Wales this year, the 33ft-wide crevice in Nant Morlais was thought to have been caused by a landslide.
Site manager Craig Howe, of Edwards Diving Services, said: ‘It’s believed there was a landslide further up the valley which washed a load of debris through the tunnel during the storm which caused the collapse.’
He said the culvert was ‘showing its age’.
Reality star Liam’s family had been told that their home was ‘apparently…going to be knocked down’.
Nearly 30 houses were evacuated in December last year after the chasm (pictured) opened up during stormy weather at a cul-de-sac in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales
Dubbed the ‘biggest engineering job in south Wales’ this year the 33ft-wide crevice in Nant Morlais was thought to have been caused by a landslide
Liam Reardon (pictured), who starred on Love Island in 2021 with girlfriend Millie Court , said his family was forced to move when the hole appeared in front of his home
But the house was saved thanks to the repair work – and Reardon, who won the 2021 series of the reality show, said it was a ‘strange, unusual, crazy’ experience.
The crater was initially temporarily filled in just in time for Christmas in December last year, with residents allowed back to their homes.
Site manager Mr Howe said: ‘Luckily, we managed to save the house and keep the other residents home.
‘The gentleman who lives in the house next to the sink hole had taken the car off the drive two hours before the sinkhole appeared. He was very lucky.’
Speaking at the time, Mr Reardon said: ‘It’s gone viral on TikTok and everyone’s commenting, speculating what they think it is.
‘Some people think it’s aliens. I’m reading it and it’s just weird because it’s outside my front door.’
Grandparents Sheila and Meurig Price were one of the first couples to return home after spending 10 days at their daughter’s house.
Mr Price said: ‘Being nosey I came out to have a look and there were police cars, an ambulance and two fire engines outside.
The crater (pictured in December) was initially temporarily filled in just in time for Christmas in December last year, with residents allowed back to their homes
A large chasm appeared which engineers spent 10 months filling – dubbed the ‘biggest engineering job in south Wales’
Project manager Jack Muldoon described the operation – which spanned 10 months – as ‘complex’
A spokesman for Merthyr Tydfil Council said: ‘The council has every confidence that the remainder of the work will be completed shortly’
‘So, I thought something’s really gone wrong and I walked round the back of our bungalow and saw this 14m chasm. It was huge.
‘It’s been challenging this year but it’s coming to an end now and the workers on the site have worked well with residents.’
Project manager Jack Muldoon described the operation as complex, adding: ‘You make yourself a metal box inside the hole so it’s safe to work and then we put bracing in and we used 15 tonnes of hydraulic bracing and that secured everything to make sure the pressure from the soil was supported.
‘When this Victorian-era culvert was built it was all bricks and stone, now we have the beauty of steel and concrete which makes it easier for us.
‘The stones have been brought to road level so residents can bring their cars in.’
He added local supplier Welsh Water will have reconnected the sewers by next month.
A spokesman for Merthyr Tydfil Council said: ‘The council has every confidence that the remainder of the work will be completed shortly, and we thank the residents for their continued patience and co-operation over the last few months.
‘The work is on schedule to finish mid-November, with the cost totalling just over £4m.’