Four people remain missing after a rescue operation was launched when a fire broke out at an abandoned mine.

Emergency services initiated a nine-hour search effort after the group was seen near the unused quarry at Elm Cross Yard, in Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire.

Smoke was seen billowing out of the mine during the blaze at 5.30pm on Wednesday, shortly after four people were seen entering the area.

Police and firefighters rushed to the scene, with a frantic search taking place to find the group amid fears they may have been inside.

Now officers say they think the people involved managed to escape.

Chief Inspector Ben Huggins from the force stated on Thursday, ‘Thankfully, the team determined that the mine was empty and were able to exit safely. No injuries have been reported.’

The cause of the fire has not yet been revealed, and police are continuing to search for the four people seen in the area. 

The mine, which caught fire, had previously been used by a drug gang, with Wiltshire Police discovering £1 million worth of cannabis in the quarry in 2018.

Emergency services initiated a nine-hour search operation after the group was seen near the unused quarry at Elm Cross Yard on Wednesday following reports of smoke emanating from the mine after 5.30 pm.

Six fire crews from Bradford-on-Avon, Trowbridge, Melksham, Corsham and Westbury were in attendance and closed Frome Road

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire Service said they were called at 7pm to the blaze. 

Six fire crews from Bradford-on-Avon, Trowbridge, Melksham, Corsham and Westbury were in attendance

As smoke filled the cave, 999 crews were concerned that if anyone remained inside, they could experience life-threatening effects from smoke inhalation.

Frome Road was closed while firefighters extinguished the blaze, but they were unable to locate the group of four. Meanwhile, Wiltshire Police are continuing efforts to track them down.

Six breathing apparatus wearers entered the mine alongside Mansfield Mine Rescue, HM Inspectorate of Mines, and Police

Gas monitors along with thermal imaging cameras were also used inside. 

The search ended just before 4.30am on Thursday morning.

It’s also prompted a warning by Police about the dangers of entering underground sites without proper safety measures or permission. 

Firefighters extinguished the blaze but were unable to find the group of four, meanwhile Wiltshire Police are still working to track them down

Crews concluded after their nine hour search that the group of four managed to escape the fire inside the mine

Six breathing apparatus wearers entered the mine alongside Mansfield Mine Rescue, HM Inspectorate of Mines, and Police. The search ended just before 4.30am on Thursday morning, and there were no reports of any injuries

Chief Inspector Huggins said they can pose significant risks to life because of their unstable structures, poor air quality and other hidden dangers.

‘Whilst this may seem an interesting place to explore, the reality is underground locations contain a number of hazards, dangers and difficulties presenting a potential risk to individual safety,’ Huggins said. 

He said a significant amount of resources were deployed out of fear for the groups safety. 

‘A national, specialist mines rescue team attended and carried out a full search of the underground area which had filled with smoke.’

‘If any of the individuals had not already left the mine at this point, it was highly unlikely that they would have survived,’ Huggins said. 

The tunnels form part of a former limestone quarry covering about 10 acres or 40,000 square metres.

The quarry used to tore equipment in World War Two and later became a mushroom farm  

In 2018 police found an estimated £1million of cannabis at the site – the largest such haul at the time.