An elderly couple were rescued from rising flood waters which engulfed their car, a witness recalled today.

Drinkers from the Railway Inn at Walkergate, Newcastle upon Tyne, spotted the stranded couple and waded out into the flooded road to pull the man and woman to safety.

Moments later, the water level in the road reached the top of the car's windows, said pub landlord Ted Laughlin.

The drama which followed last night's downpour was captured on video camera.

Mr Laughlin told PA: ''The couple must have been in their 70s.

''They came in here afterwards for a cup of tea and a whisky.

''We found out afterwards, the man thought he might have been able to get through the water in his car, but when he got up to the edge, he tried to get it in reverse and the car stalled.

''The water rose so quickly it was unreal.

''Now the car is a write-off.

''The couple have telephoned here this morning to thank the people who helped them.''

Mr Laughlin said the storm had taken everyone by surprise.

''You couldn't see in front of you, it was raining that hard,'' he said.

''I have never seen anything like it.''