These remarkable images show the incredible progress being made as emergency crews work night and day to make Whaley Bridge safe again.
The M.E.N was given exclusive access to photograph the work at close quarters.
Pictures taken from atop the dam wall show how the water levels at Toddbrook Reservoir have dropped as fire crews work to pump thousands of gallons from the breached structure.
The dam was badly damaged following last week's torrential rain and thunderstorms.
Hundreds of homes have been evacuated as emergency workers continue efforts to prevent the dam from giving way.
IN PICTURES: The view from the top of Toddbrook Reservoir
There remains a threat to life in the town and 1,000 plus residents have already been evacuated with a further 55 properties cleared in Horwich End on Saturday.
Experts say the level of the reservoir has fallen by 3.6 metres so far. But it must fall to eight metres, below the level of the damage, before evacuated residents will be allowed back into their homes.
At the current rate, the level is falling two metres every 24 hours.
Pipes have been laid to drain the reservoir while lasers are being used to make precise measurements of the dam to check if it is moving.
Firefighters hope to introduce pontoons onto which the industrial pumps can be placed instead of being forced to move them as the water recedes.
The inflow to the lake has been blocked off by more than 400 sandbags dropped onto the dam wall by an RAF Chinook helicopter.
The dam wall has been packed with 530 tonnes of aggregate which is being cemented into place to reinforce the structural integrity of the spillway, police have said.
Police have warned that the 180-year-old structure remains in a "critical condition" with a breach still a "very real threat".
Around 300 evacuated residents and businesses from Whaley Bridge packed into Chapel-en-le-Frith High School for a public meeting on Sunday night.
Derbyshire chief fire officer, Terry McDermott, was given a round of applause as he told how crews had built a road at the site on Saturday night to improve access and move ten pumps closer to the reservoir.
In total 22 pumps have drained 42 per cent of the 1.2m tonnes of water in the reservoir.
"We are making excellent progress now all our pumps are in place," he said, but added that there was still a risk the dam could fail.
He also revealed that ten 'rescue boats' were on hand in case the valley was inundated.
Before the meeting, Julie Sharman, chief operating officer of the Canal and River Trust, told the M.E.N. that the risk was now 'much much lower' thanks to efforts of emergency crews.
But she was forced to defend decisions during the public meeting when a resident accused the Trust of ‘neglecting’ the reservoir.
She insisted the reservoir was maintained 'to the most stringent standards' and promised the Environment Agency would investigate the exact causes.
Many of the thousand-plus evacuated residents are said to be staying with friends of family.
However 47 adults and seven children are being kept at Buxton University accommodation or at The Palace Hotel, in Buxton.
It is hoped they can return home by next weekend at the current rate of progress - this could be brought forward if no significant rain falls.
