Whitchurch canal repairs will take months after landslip
A 50-metre wide sinkhole opened up in the early hours of Monday
The Canal and River Trust has told us it will be 'a matter of months not weeks' to get the canal repaired in Whitchurch, after a landslip.
A major incident was declared in the early hours of Monday morning (22nd Dec) after a 50-metre wide sinkhole opened up near Drawbridge in Chemistry.
At least 10 people had to be rescued by emergency services at around 4.22am, leaving them homeless after their boats were damaged in the landslip.
The Canal and River Trust have been back at the scene, alongside other emergency services.
Regional director, Henriette Breukelaar told us what the scene looks like: "It is a very dramatic sight and quite an emotional one just because of the impact it has clearly had on those involved.
'So close to Christmas'
"Everyone by now has been rehomed in temporary accommodation. We have been out today making sure people's basic immediate needs are met.
"Obviously there is the added complication with it being so close to Christmas. We have now built two dams so that no water can spill out from wither side of the landslip, to protect those living nearby.
"People are asking when it will be rebuilt. Our response is that it will be rebuilt, but it will take months and not weeks. I have never seen anything like it, it is a really rare occurrence," she said.
Phil Johnson, 56, said he woke up to "cracking and banging" and that he quickly got dressed and left his boat.
He said: "I saw the water flying past the boat at horrendous speed, I could hear like a waterfall around the corner from my boat.
"I went and had a look and was greeted by the most horrendous sight of seeing this boat stuck in the breach at the bottom, being basically flooded."
Fire service area manager Scott Hurford said it was extremely fortunate that no one was injured during the "unusual" incident.