MOVE over Mr Spock and Captain Kirk - a group of potholers really do "boldly go where no man has gone before".

Matienzo Caving Expeditions is a group of about 70 keen cavers who have been exploring and surveying the treasures of the Matienzo region of Spain for the last 26 years.

The region has taken two to three million years to form but had gone virtually undiscovered until a handful of Manchester University students decided to explore foreign caves. Co-ordinator Juan Corrin joined the team in 1975 when he was at the university and uses his knowledge of information technology, which he teaches at Woodhey High School in Ramsbottom, to plot 3D maps and detail and survey routes which the group has explored.

Juan, 44, who lives in Bacup, said: "There are 50 different caves with 12 major ones which are more than 2km long.

"The longest is 41km and there are a couple at 24km.

"About 15 to 20km of the cave network was known before 1970 and everything that has been discovered since has been found by this team. "Each year we discover about 7km of new caves but in 1989 we found 15km.

"We have to apply for permits to cave from the Spanish speleological authorities and in return we provide maps and written details of the caves we have discovered and explored."

Besides stunning caverns with incredible stalactite and stalagmite formations, the group have also found a Bronze Age sword, flints, a hand axe, human remains, pieces of iron and copper and Roman glass.

"All of the artefacts have been given to a nearby museum.

Juan said the potholers are well aware of the dangers involved with the sport and two members of the group died in 1992 and 1994 while exploring the caves.

"We are all insured and we have our own rescue equipment and stretchers so we can deal with any problems that we have in the caves," he said.

"We are exploring new ground, going where no-one has ever been before and, yes, it is dangerous.

"But we are experienced. "If there is an accident we hold a full inquiry afterwards and learn from what has happened - but in fact we have received more injuries from playing football against the Spaniards."

For many years the group was supported by a grant from the Sports Council, which helped towards some of the travelling costs, although everyone taking part in an expedition pays a small fee to cover equipment.

But two years ago the group's application was turned down.

Juan said: "They decided that caving no longer a proper sport."

Fortunately, the Foundation for Sports and the Arts, sponsored by the Pools companies, does not agree and has given the group £440.

This year they have also been awarded a scientific grant of £250 from the Ghar Parau Foundation, which is being used towards the costs of computerising the data from the surveys of the caves.

Once the information is programmed, Juan is hoping to make it available on the Internet so potholers worldwide will be able to learn more about the fascinating Matienzo caves.

"As long as there are undiscovered caves to explore, we will keep on going back to find out more," he said.

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