HOMEOWNERS were evacuated when they felt the ground shake beneath their feet after they noticed a loud rumbling underground.

Homes in Norset Road, Fareham, were without electricity for eight hours when firefighters detected an electrical fire which had caused eruptions in the ground.

One resident saw a divot caused on the pavement outside his house and subsequently a small hole appeared.

The crews were sent there at about 5pm on Saturday night where they could see that the area was “visibly hot” with infrared equipment.

After first believing it was a gas leak they were able to determine that water had seeped onto the cables through the tarmac.

Watch manager Dave Higgins, from Fareham fire station, said: “In about 15 years I have only seen about three or four of these kinds of incidents. The owners weren’t aware it was a an electrical problem.”