RESCUERS bringing an injured woman out of a Gwent cave where she was trapped overnight were this morning racing to beat the clock.

Tidal conditions meant the entrance to the caving system in Chepstow would be flooded by about 11am.

Nine members of Wessex Caving Club were exploring Otter Hole, underneath Chep-stow Racecourse, when the 22-year-old woman slipped from a ledge yesterday afternoon.

Inspector Mark Riley of Gwent Police told the Argus they received a call at 5.45pm saying a member of the group had slipped from a ledge of about two metres.

He said the police handed over to the cave rescue team but an ambulance was on standby.

It is believed the woman, from Gloucestershire, has back and pelvis injuries and will be carried out on a stretcher.

Gloucester Cave Rescue Group are conducting the main operation aided by West Brecon Res-cue Group and it is understood members of a Midlands team were also on their way to the scene.

Gloucester secretary Pete Turier said: "A medical team, with equipment and a doctor, reached her late last night. When the cave re-opened in the early hours of this morning a second team went in.

"She is on her way out. The first team made some progress and then were met by the second team and they are carrying on together. "Obviously, they are hoping to get her out before the tide shuts the entrance off again."

Chairman Paul Taylor, who is at the scene, said they were reasonably happy with the way things were going this morning.

"Cave rescue is a long waiting game," he added. Following a communications breakdown, rescuers were feeding 2,500 metres of telephone wire into the cave.

They were unable to see the stretcher party when they arrived inside so two of the team went ahead to try to establish contact with them. Mr Taylor said he could not comment on the extent of the woman's injuries.

He added they had very few accidents, particularly in this area. Otter Hole is described as one of the most difficult in the UK - the tidal flow means that once cavers enter at low tide, they are forced to remain inside for around ten hours before they are able to leave again.