THREE elderly women had to be rescued from a river after the driver of the car they were in became confused while crossing a ford.

The women, said to be in their 60s and 70s, were attempting to cross the ford at Holme Beck, near The Holme, in Great Broughton, near Stokesley, North Yorkshire, when the driver turned and started to drive up the river.

It is thought the woman was not from the area and became confused while trying to negotiate the unfamiliar crossing in her Volkswagen Polo.

The car travelled some way along the river before it became stuck in more than two feet of water.

Fire crews from Stokesley and Coulby Newham, near Middlesbrough, were called at about 7.45pm on Saturday, and a water rescue crew from Richmond was also alerted, although later stood down.

Crews were able to rescue the women using a ladder to bring them safely to the bank.

A firefighter who was at the rescue, but who asked not to be identified, said: “Somehow the driver took a wrong turn while crossing the ford and ended up driving along the river itself until the car bonnet was under water.

“The women were all in good spirits when we got to them and almost found it quite funny, although the woman who had been driving was quite angry with herself about it.

“She couldn’t give an explanation for what had happened, but she is not from the local area and had never been across a ford before. We just think she was nervous and lost concentration.”

Firefighters had to leave the car in the river to wait for a recovery vehicle to bring it out.

The women were on their way to a party, which they still managed to attend.

Great Broughton’s ford is in a secluded part of the village and is not used regularly by passing traffic. If the driver had turned the opposite way while on the ford, the car would have fallen down a drop more than a metre high.

Do you know the women involved or did you help in the rescue? Contact The Northern Echo on 01325-505065 or email thenorthernecho.co.uk