A FOREST caver who helped the initial exploration of the fabulous caverns stretching below Chepstow Racecourse is going back this weekend – to see sights he has never seen before.

For Dave Parker, of English Bicknor, had explored the lower levels of the Otter Hole cave system, not realising that the upper levels contained some of the most amazing rock formations yet found in Britain.

"Dave has never seen the wonderful stalagmites and stalactites in these caverns before so Saturday's expedition will be really special for him," said chairman of the Cave Rescue Group Paul Taylor.

Paul, who is also a member of the Gloucestershire Spieliological Society and the Forest of Dean Caving Club, will be part of the party of local cavers including Dave. They will start Saturday's expedition by braving the 'sump' entrance to the system – a hole at the base of cliffs formed by an underground stream which is only reavealed at low tide.

Once inside the system they will be effectively trapped there for six hours while the next tide rises and falls and the stream backs up and then ebbs away.

Dave was initially guided to the caves by George Gardiner who then lived in Ruardean (brother of Councillor Andrew Gardiner and the late Dave Gardiner, the Imjin veteran whose funeral was held last week).

It was George Gardiner who first discovered a 'blow hole' in the river bank later blown open by the cavers to gain entrance to the system.