A FATHER and his 10-year-old son had to be rescued after getting lost underground in old mine workings.

The local man, an experienced caver, was taking his son from the Old Ham to the Old Bow workings near Clearwell when he became disorientated.

The pair had gone into the mine at around 2pm and were expected out at around 5.30pm. When they had not returned at 7pm the man's wife raised the alarm and Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue and Gloucestershire Cave Rescue responded.

Mr Jonathan Wright, who runs nearby Clearwell Caves, led a team underground because of his knowledge of the working.

He said: "The father took his son into Old Ham and was going to Old Bow when he realised he had no idea where he was.

"He went back to a spot that he recognised and waited there.

"His wife raised the alarm at 5.30pm and I opened up the car park at Clearwell Caves for the vehicles.

"I led the first team in and found them in the middle of the complex at about 9.30pm – they were relieved but cold.

"It is a large complex, around 600 acres with a lot of passages.

"It can be very disorientating and we have had cavers got lost in there before.

"We run trips in the summer holidays and that is the safest way to do it. They are becoming very popular."

"The fire service said it happened in the show caves (at Clearwell) but that is wrong, it was in the workings which are at Lambsquay."