FOR the first time in 100 years dogs, and other pets are being allowed in to Dan Yr Ogof Caves, near Ystradgynlais.

Mr Ashford Price, Chair of the National Showcaves for Wales, went on to explain:- “We have never allowed dogs in to the caves as with over 10 miles of cave passages it would be no easy task to find a missing pooch, and I don’t think cave rescue would appreciate being called out for a missing poodle!

"Outside the temperature has been around the 30C mark for several days, but in the caves it remains at 10C ! A whopping 20C difference!

"Tourists nowadays take their pets with them on holiday, hence, it would not be fair to ask them to leave their pet in the car whilst they went in to the caves.

"We are insisting that dogs are on a lead in the caves, and that ‘doggy bags’ are also taken in just in case of accidents!

"It is not only dogs that have been taken in to the caves in the recent hot weather. One child took in her pet hamsters, while another tourist carried her cats around in a basket.

"The local farmer has even left a few Dartmoor lambs in the caves overnight as they were in a very bad way due to the heat, and this seemed to work wonders on them!

"However, when the temperature drops we will again revert back to asking tourists to leave their animals in their cars parked hopefully under the trees, with the car windows open.

So if any dog has always wanted to see inside a cave - it’s now or never! "