INVESTIGATIONS are continuing into the collapse of a newly built Persimmon property that forced the owners of nearby homes to be rehoused.

The gable end of a house on the Aiskew Estate, near Bedale, gave way last week while underpinning work was being carried out by the builders.

Hambleton District Council vowed to investigate fully the cause of the collapse and the house was demolished.

Although the house had been sold, subject to contract, the owners had not moved into the property. No one was hurt in the incident.

Families from two homes on the horseshoe development, a former gas works depot, have been temporarily rehoused for health and safety reasons while structural engineers carry out a series of checks.

Head of development control for Hambleton District Council, Maurice Cann, said: "It is too early to establish what has gone wrong, but something has gone very seriously wrong."

The property was being underpinned with piles for a second time to meet the requirements of Yorkshire Water for a nearby sewer.

A spokesman for Persimmon Homes said the engineering works had caused the foundations to become unstable.

He said that alternative accommodation arrangements would be made for the owners of the two adjoining properties until the structural problems were solved

He said: "Our primary concern is to look after the accommodation needs of adjoining neighbours and we are doing everything in our power to resolve these issues as quickly as possible."