Families flee homes as house splits in two

A house partially collapsed into its foundations today after work on an extension on the neighbouring property is believed to have made the ground unstable.

Two families were forced to flee their homes after the empty semi-detached house in Wolverhampton crumbled and split.

Neighbours living in the adjoining house in Blackburn Avenue, Claregate, were shaken awake at 4am to the sounds of rumbling.

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Firefighters evacuated the houses and isolated the gas supply to prevent an explosion. No one was injured.

Eldern Noel, 43, with his 13-year-old daughter Christine, said: "We heard a trembling and we felt it moving.

"A neighbour from across the street knocked on our door and that's when we knew something serious had happened." He added: "We are waiting to find out whether there has been any damage to our house."

The family living in the house next door, where an extension is being built also fled and are believed to be staying with relatives. No one was at the property today.

It is thought the collapsed house was recently being rented out to a couple, but that no one had been living there in the last few weeks. Building inspectors from

Wolverhampton City Council will check the property today. Steve Burson, from the building control department, said: "We are assessing the properties at the moment.

The likelihood is its going to have to be demolished either in full or in part."