FOUR overdue university caving club cavers were rescued at the weekend after getting into difficulties in atrocious weather conditions.

Clapham Cave Rescue Organisation was called out on Saturday, January 11, at 21.56pm to a site between Large Pot and Rift Pot, in the Masongill area.

Heavy rainfall had caused the four males club-mates to contact the authorities.

Because of the large volume of water entering the cave making it unsafe to enter further, CRO members called for help with Derbyshire Cave Rescue organisation, Swaledale Mountain Rescue Team and Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association.

Fortunately, water levels eventually dropped enough to allow caving personnel to enter Large Pot and the missing cavers were found safe and well, albeit cold.

CRO said it had been ‘a substantial rescue operation in challenging conditions involving around 900 volunteer hours’.

Thanks were expressed to North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service for providing hot drinks and food.