Love Island star Liam Reardon says his sinkhole house will be knocked down and he will never return – as race is on to get his neighbours home for Christmas

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Love Island star Liam Reardon has revealed his South Wales home will be demolished after a massive sinkhole swallowed up the front garden, as council workers race to help other evacuated residents return in time for Christmas.

The 25-year-old was having breakfast with his father and sister in their rented home when the ‘front wall and gates disappeared’ into the massive 50ft cavity that opened up in Merthyr Tydfil on Sunday, December 1.

Around 30 homes at Nant Morlais were evacuated after a culvert – a structure which allows water to flow under roads and railways – collapsed following heavy rain from Storm Bert.

The  turbulent weather also resulted in two landslides in the area.

Residents, who have been forced into hotels and Airbnbs, were allowed to return to their properties to retrieve clothing and other items on Monday.

As of Friday, the first residents were able to move back, with Merthyr Tydfil  County Borough Council saying it ‘anticipates’ the remaining homeowners will be able to return ‘at some point next week’.

In a statement, it said: ‘Work is ongoing to fill the void at Nant Morlais.

‘A 6ft steel pipe has been inserted into the existing culvert to support the flow of any overflow water going through it.

Love Island star Liam Reardon has revealed his South Wales home will be demolished after a massive sinkhole swallowed up the front garden. Liam is pictured with his girlfriend Millie Court, who he met on the reality show

Around 30 homes at Nant Morlais were evacuated after a culvert - a structure which allows water to flow under roads and railways - collapsed following heavy rain from Storm Bert

Around 30 homes at Nant Morlais were evacuated after a culvert – a structure which allows water to flow under roads and railways – collapsed following heavy rain from Storm Bert

As of Friday, the first residents were able to move back, with Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council saying it 'anticipates' the remaining homeowners can return 'at some point next week'

As of Friday, the first residents were able to move back, with Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council saying it ‘anticipates’ the remaining homeowners can return ‘at some point next week’

‘Contractors are now onsite carrying out temporary works to fill the hole with stone.

‘Utilities have been restored to some properties, so those residents have been allowed to move safely back into their homes.

‘We are working with utility companies to restore supplies to the remaining properties once the hole is filled, and when this is done the remaining residents will also be able to safely move back home. 

‘We anticipate this to be at some point next week.’

But Liam and his family have not been able to return, he revealed, and they are ‘virtually homeless‘.

The residence has been emptied and may have to be knocked down, he added.

Liam said that they are staying in an Airbnb while they work out where they are going to move to next. 

Speaking on the podcast he fronts with girlfriend Millie, who he met on the ITV reality show, Liam said: ‘We can’t go back to the house. It has been emptied and apparently it is going to be knocked down. 

Speaking on his podcast with Millie, 25-year-old was having breakfast with his dad and sister when the 'front wall and gates disappeared' into the massive 50ft cavity

Speaking on his podcast with Millie, 25-year-old was having breakfast with his dad and sister when the ‘front wall and gates disappeared’ into the massive 50ft cavity

The giant sinkhole, which first appeared right outside Liam's house in Merthyr Tydfil on Sunday, December 1

The giant sinkhole, which first appeared right outside Liam’s house in Merthyr Tydfil on Sunday, December 1

‘We park our cars where the hole appeared…Thankfully no-one was injured. We need to find a home to move into now.’

Earlier in the podcast, he described how the crater had started out as a ‘small sinkhole’ and ‘progressively got worse and worse’. 

But on Sunday morning, the driveway started ‘falling away’ as the family were eating breakfast and were told to evacuate as fast as possible.

The reality star said on the Liam and Millie podcast: ‘I still can’t believe it myself. We recently sold our family home and moved into this home a few months ago. We have been renting. We have a massive 60ft sinkhole on our driveway.

‘The day before, I had driven over that area where the sinkhole appeared about 11am. The tarmac hadn’t broken at that point. 

‘Got a call at 2pm that afternoon to say there was a small sinkhole at the end of our drive. From there it got worse and worse.

‘We were in the house on Sunday morning having breakfast then all of a sudden our front gate and wall disappeared.

‘You could hear the thumping of the road disappearing. I was having a cup of coffee, my yoghurt and eggs and everyone was shouting at us to get out. We had to pack a case and just get out.’

Liam described how the crater had started out as a 'small sinkhole' and 'progressively got worse and worse'

Liam described how the crater had started out as a ‘small sinkhole’ and ‘progressively got worse and worse’

Millie (pictured) said that her friends thought she was winding them up when she told them that it was in front of Liam's house

Millie (pictured) said that her friends thought she was winding them up when she told them that it was in front of Liam’s house

Millie said that her friends thought she was winding them up when she told them that it was in front of Liam’s house.

Liam and Millie won the seventh series of Love Island in 2021 and had a year-long relationship before briefly splitting in July 2022. 

But they have since reconciled and have been going from strength to strength, with Millie recently admitting that she is ready to take their relationship to the next level.  

The 27-year-old has openly ‘hinted’ she is ready for Liam to pop the question and has already ‘showed’ him the style of engagement ring she would like.

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline in June, she said: ‘He’s the one in control of proposing and I’ve gave a little hint and showed him a ring that I would like. 

‘Not that it means he’ll do it any time soon, but I thought better he knows now so when he does decide to, in the future, he knows what ring I like.

‘He also knows what I would like proposal-wise as well, so where it would be and stuff’. 

Millie went onto say that the couple have been much happier in their relationship since ‘doing long distance’. 

The sinkhole began as the size of a 'pillow' but quickly escalated and is now estimated to be up to 50ft deep and 16ft wide

The sinkhole began as the size of a ‘pillow’ but quickly escalated and is now estimated to be up to 50ft deep and 16ft wide

Gushing water can be seen coming from the bottom of the huge void

Gushing water can be seen coming from the bottom of the huge void 

The area around the sinkhole has been cordoned off and the street has remained closed

The area around the sinkhole has been cordoned off and the street has remained closed

She said: ‘It’s amazing, he lives in Wales now and I’m in Essex so we’re doing long distance, but it’s actually working really well. 

‘We managed to get that time together where I’ll come down to Wales for a week, he’ll come down to Essex, and it’s almost like it’s working because the time that we have apart we can crack on with work and solely focus on that.

‘Then when we’re together we really look after our relationship and actually spend quality time together.’

The reality star admitted the pair ‘struggled’ with balancing a relationship as well as fame after first coming off Love Island, but despite splitting for a short period of time they ‘always knew they wanted to be together’. 

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