People had to be rescued from their stricken vehicles by fire crews after cars, vans and even a HGV became trapped as floodwater and high winds from storm Isha battered North Yorkshire.

Four vehicles, two cars, a van and a HGV became trapped on the A684 when the notorious Morton on Swale bridge road was overwhelmed for the fifth time in a year. North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said five people were rescued from their vehicles along with several dogs.

The alarm was raised around 5am on Monday when specialist crews from Fire and Rescue from Richmond and Ripon were called out to Morton on Swale where the four vehicles were being engulfed by rising water.

North Yorkshire Council was also contacted to put in place road closures. At Masham, the road was also closed by police when the Ure burst its banks on the A6107 around 9am on Monday.

On Sunday at 6pm crews from Hawes and Reeth were called out to help the occupants of a car stuck in flood water at Apersett after the river overflowed. North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said a Ford Mondeo had become trapped in flood water, a man and a woman in their twenties and a three year old girl were rescued from the car. A fire and rescue spokesperson said they were taken to a nearby public house for welfare checks.

Across the county, 600 homes are without power, mostly in the York and Filey area but some in the Dales and highways said 13 roads were closed.

William Herron, said he was called out at 5am to help a friend who was caught up in the A684 flooding at Morton on Swale.

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“She said the van had gone off the road because of the flooding, fire and rescue crews got her out of the van with her dogs and I picked her up, she was very shaken up. I came to try and get the van out in my 4 by 4 but it’s too deep we are going to try and get a telehandler.

“It is deep, I haven’t seen it this bad for a few years. This flooding does keep happening at Morton but it is mother nature what can you do.”

Road closure signs have been erected to try and stop people driving into floods and North Yorkshire Council and the police are are reminding drivers to take notice.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire said: “Please respect road closure signs. Even if the flood water has receded, bridges and other structures may need to be inspected to ensure they are safe for use. Not only is removing signs dangerous, it is an offence.”