GEORGE Gardiner, the man who helped to discover the extensive cave system under Chepstow Racecourse, has died aged 83.

Although never a caver, he helped pinpoint the entance to Otter Hole, one of the most impressive caves in the world.

Paul Taylor, of the Forest of Dean Caving Club paid tribute to an "amazing" man whose local knowledge revealed the existence of an incredible subterranean world.

In 1970 Mr Gardiner showed Dave Parker the entrance to the Otter Hole cave after they met in the Piercefield pub in St Arvans.

Mr Taylor said: "George was never a caver and he never went very far into Otter Hole but he had an incredible knowledge of the area in which he lived.

"He was an amazing man with so many stories to tell.

"The cavers gave him a white caving helmet and he always carried it around in the back of his car.

"I was so pleased when George was able to join us at the Palace Cinema in Cinderford a couple of years ago for the screening of the film about Dave's return to Otter Hole."

Donations for the club have been requested in lieu of flowers at Mr Gardiner's funeral which takes place at St Arvans Church today (Wednesday).

Mr Gardiner was born in Ruardean but from the age of seven lived in St Arvans.

He served an electrical apprenticeship at Beard's electrical shop in Chepstow before joining the Royal Air Force and serving in Rhodesia.

Mr Gardiner spent the last years of his life at Bethany care home in Bulwark and died at Chepstow Community Hospital.

He leaves three children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.