A giant sinkhole in St Albans has cost councils more than £600,000 to deal with.
The sinkhole, which measured 12 metres wide and seven metres deep, led to local residents being evacuated from their homes.
Hertfordshire County Council said their bill had topped more than £400,000 for dealing with the emergency, while St Albans City and District Council has spent around £200,000.
The two councils are now in negotiations with the Department of Communities and Local Government to try and have their costs reimbursed.
Cllr Beric Read, portfolio holder for community engagement and localism at St Albans City and District Council, said: ‘It is almost six months since the sinkhole appeared and greatly disrupted the lives of residents living nearby.
‘We were presented with a formidable challenge in trying to return the area to normal. It has been a fantastic effort. It will continue until all utilities have been reconnected and the road fully repaired and the families are back in their homes.’
