OVER 20 people responded to a rescue mission after two cavers failed to return from a trip through a mine complex in Eryri (Snowdonia).

The alarm was raised on Saturday afternoon after the pair were reported overdue from a trip through the Croesor-Rhosydd mine complex.

North Wales Cave Rescue Organisation (NWCRO) received a call from North Wales Police and more than 20 team members assembled to help.

A spokesperson from NWCRO said: "These were split into two groups with one group tasked with walking to the incident site from Tan y Grisiau whilst the second organised equipment and drove up from Croesor village with Aberglaslyn Mountain Rescue Team.

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"During the course of the incident, one of the missing persons managed to exit the system and was able to provide further details to the team. They explained that an in situ boat used for one of the lake crossings had become jammed and they were unable to retrieve it, forcing them to retrace their steps.

"During this the second person had become exhausted and was unable to climb the final pitch out of the system, but was otherwise uninjured. A NWCRO team was dispatched to assess and assist this person up the pitch and to surface."

NWCRO provides an underground search and rescue service across North Wales all through entirely voluntary team members thanks to donations.