by Jenni Horn

jhorn@thekmgroup.co.uk

Four 'urban explorers' who ended up trapped in tunnels were freed at a cost of £6,000 to the emergency services.

Kent Fire and Rescue has revealed the cost of the operation to rescue the group from the tunnels in Rochester on Sunday morning.

Forty firefighters, three ambulances and paramedics, plus a number of police officers, were called to Short’s Tunnels, off The Esplanade.

The three men and one woman had gone into the disused underground factory to explore.

They also started a campfire which caused the tunnel to fill with smoke.

They got lost in the maze of passages and had to call 999 as the tunnels became smoke-logged.

They have been branded as “hugely irresponsible” by the fire chief in charge of the operation.

For the full story, see Friday’s Medway Messenger.