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Whaley Bridge dam wall collapse in pictures

6 August 2019

Sandbags are being dropped to shore up the dam

Danny Lawson/PA Media Helicopter drops supplies — Sandbags are being dropped to shore up the dam

Emergency work is under way to repair the Toddbrook Reservoir dam in Derbyshire after it was damaged by heavy rain.

About 1,500 residents were evacuated from Whaley Bridge on Thursday evening amid fears they were in "mortal danger".

Engineers pumped water out of the reservoir in an attempt to stop up to 300 million gallons of water bursting through the damaged dam.

An RAF Chinook has been flying in repair materials to shore up the dam and has dropped more than 500 tonnes of aggregate.

Efforts are being made to release water from the reservoir while also shoring up the dam

Yui Mok/PA Media Helicopter flies in over reservoir — Efforts are being made to release water from the reservoir while also shoring up the dam

The operation has been going since Thursday

Yui Mok/PA Media Chinook hovers over dam — The operation has been going since Thursday

The helicopter has come and gone from the scene

Getty Images Helicopter flies in over misty valley — The helicopter has come and gone from the scene

Police, the Environment Agency and the Canal and River Trust have all said there is a "real risk" the dam could collapse

Getty Images People and a dog watch the helicopter repair — Police, the Environment Agency and the Canal and River Trust have all said there is a "real risk" the dam could collapse

By Saturday morning, sandbags dropped by the helicopter covered most of the collapsed section

PA Media Dam wall — By Saturday morning, sandbags dropped by the helicopter covered most of the collapsed section

Part of the reservoir's spillway broke away on Thursday

@fraglast/PA Media View of the dam from the top — Part of the reservoir's spillway broke away on Thursday

Engineers feared Whaley Bridge could be swamped if the Toddbrook Reservoir burst

Reuters The collapsed dam — Engineers feared Whaley Bridge could be swamped if the Toddbrook Reservoir burst

Heavy rain caused damage to the dam

AFP Photo/Derbyshire Constabulary Aerial view of dam — Heavy rain caused damage to the dam

Most of the residents of Whaley Bridge were evacuated on Thursday

Reuters The collapsed dam — Most of the residents of Whaley Bridge were evacuated on Thursday

Residents were asked to gather in the neighbouring town of Chapel-en-le-Frith

PA Media Emergency workers in Whaley Bridge — Residents were asked to gather in the neighbouring town of Chapel-en-le-Frith

The dam was built in 1831

PA Media Toddbrook Reservoir — The dam was built in 1831

Teams have been working non-stop to try to stop the dam from bursting

PA Media Emergency workers in Whaley Bridge — Teams have been working non-stop to try to stop the dam from bursting

Whaley Bridge town centre was said to be like a ghost town after residents and business people left

PA Media Whaley Bridge — Whaley Bridge town centre was said to be like a ghost town after residents and business people left

The water level has now been reduced significantly

Reuters/Phil Noble General view of the village — The water level has now been reduced significantly

Engineers have built two roads to allow pumps to be moved closer to the site

BBC Panorama Dam recovery — Engineers have built two roads to allow pumps to be moved closer to the site

About 20 residents remain in properties despite warnings they are at risk

BBC Panorama Dam scene — About 20 residents remain in properties despite warnings they are at risk

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Town evacuated as dam wall collapses