DOZENS of people were left living in limbo over the Easter weekend after their homes in Ridley Road, Bromley, were evacuated following last week’s dramatic events.

The house that collapsed into the hole, number 122, belonged to Terence and Yvonne Shepherd.

They alerted neighbours and the fire brigade after noticing alarming cracks start to form in their walls, at about 4am, last Tuesday.

They were trapped inside their home until fire fighters arrived. Four hours later their home of almost six years caved into a 20ft hole that appeared in their front garden.

The Shepherd family are now living in a hotel paid for by their insurance company.

They have had to pay £500 to put the personal belongings they have been able to save into storage, in Elmers End.

The other three families hardest hit have also emptied out their homes, ahead of demolition teams moving in.

Mrs Shepherd said: “We’ve been married 35 years. There are a lot of memories in that house.

“We want them to knock it down with respect.”

She said: “You hope that it can be rescued but next thing you know, we found out on Friday that it and the three others had been condemned.”

Mrs Shepherd added: “We just want to know why this has happened.”

The couple were treated for shock after the collapse, which happened at about 9am, last Tuesday.

Mrs Shepherd, speaking to Bromley Extra hours after the incident, said: “I’m devastated, but no one was hurt. I guess that’s the main thing.”