Residents of a block of flats which was evacuated on Sunday after a huge section of its car park collapsed say they are no closer to knowing when they might go back in.

The 18-inch crack appeared on Sunday morning after a pipe burst under the car park on Fearnley Mill Drive off Leeds Road which runs along next to the River Colne.

It’s understood there are around 37 residents who have had to find alternative accommodation until surveyors give the all clear for them to return.

Yorkshire Water, police, firefighters from Rastrick Fire Station and Kirklees Council’s engineering section gathered on Sunday morning to assess the damage.

It turned out it was a private disused pipe which had burst underneath the car park.

A technician from Yorkshire Water isolated the main water pipe with assistance from the fire service.

Resident, David Lockwood, said: “We were briefly allowed back in the building today but no-one has any idea of when we will be able to go back permanently.

“It’s obviously very frustrating but there is no point getting stressed about it.

“It’s a big decision for them to decide when it’s safe for us all to go back in. I had a look at the cracks and the hole doesn’t seem to be getting any bigger.

“We just have to be patient and wait to hear the result of the structural report. If it’s not safe for us to go back then it’s not safe for us to go back.

The fence put up round the damaged car park at Fearnley Mill Drive

“At least I have got somewhere to go and I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the amount of information and updates that we have received from the management company and my lettings agency.”

And another resident, Caroline Sykes, 25, added: “I’ve not heard anything yet. I’m going to be staying in the same place tonight.”

A spokeswoman for Fearnley Mill Management Company said they were awaiting a structural report from a surveyor.

Kirklees Council did not provide a comment.