PART of a famous network of caves have been shut to tourists after flood water caused an underground river to burst its banks.

The last 20 feet of the Hellfire Caves, in West Wycombe, have been closed after the River Styx, which runs at the bottom of the caves, flooded a section of walkway open to tourists.

Teresa Tedman, manager of the caves, explained: "The river at the bottom of the caves has overflowed because the water table is so high. We have closed the last 20 feet because we don't want people walking through it. It's just a couple of inches deep but this hasn't ever happened before, at least not to my knowledge."

Throughout the 1700s and 1800s the caves, which are a quarter of a mile long, were a favourite party spot for some of Britain's most senior aristocrats and statesmen.

Tales of their revelling in the caves are legendary and even orgies were supposed to have occurred deep down within the dark network of tunnels.

American president Benjamin Franklin also visited the site which is still owned by the Dashwood family of West Wycombe.

Staff first noticed some flooding in January but since then the problem has got worse.

But Mrs Tedman added: "We are still open for business as usual."