Inside Stump Cross Caverns. Photo: Paul Allison CC-BY-SA-2.0

A caver was rescued after spending eight hours stuck underground in the Yorkshire Dales.

The man was exploring a section of Stump Cross Caverns near Appletreewick when he got into difficulties yesterday.

Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association was alerted by police at 12.30pm and 47 members of the volunteer rescue team went to the man’s aid. Although much of the system is a show cave, open to the public, the experienced caver was in a tight passage in the Clay Level not normally open to visitors.

A spokesperson for the rescuers said: “After some widening of the passage, he was finally pulled free after being stuck for some eight hours.”

The caver was unharmed but cold and hungry.

The caves were first discovered by lead miners in 1860 and extend for about 6km. In 1963 Geoff Workman broke the record for staying underground when he spent 105 days in the caverns as part of an experiment in light deprivation.

Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association carries out rescues in the eastern Yorkshire Dales both on fells and in the underground caves of the area.