A former Keighley man is making his final trip to Gaping Gill, the cavern that inspired his love of caving 50 years ago.

Brian Varley, 70, who was born and bred in Keighley and now lives in Cottingley, was travelling to Ingleborough today with the Craven Pothole Club.

Mr Varley, a former lecturer at Bradford College, will attend the club's annual meet at Gaping Gill and will camp near the entrance to the 350ft main chamber. Craven Pothole Club spends two weeks at the site and for one week offers members of the public the chance to be winched down the main chamber.

Mr Varley said: "I first got interested in pot-holing when I saw a friend's picture of Gaping Gill -- it's just spectacular.

"I'll always remember my first time down. It was in 1951 and was just incredible -- I was hooked and I've taken part in the meets ever since. We missed out last year because of foot and mouth but I'm really looking forward to this year's trip.

"It's quite sad because it's my last, because I've got arthritis now, but I have such good memories. We always have such a great time."

Mr Varley is a former president of Craven Pothole Club and is a life member.

He has been a keen potholer for most of his adult life and has enjoyed excursions in the Dales, Derbyshire, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Mr Varley said that the equipment used to winch people down Gaping Gill had vastly improved over the years and he was looking forward to introducing other people to the gill.

"The process is very strictly monitored for safety and it's great seeing people's reactions once they've been down," he added.

Craven Pothole Club will be winching people down Gaping Gill from next Saturday until lunch time on Monday, August 26. The trip to the bottom of the cavern is free - but it costs £7 to get winched out again.