NORTH Yorkshire firefighters rescued ten people from cars trapped in floodwater in the Dales as rivers burst their banks and surface water rose fast following yesterday’s deluge.

First to be trapped was a family of four on the A684 at Hawes. As firefighters pushed their vehicle out of the floodwaters, two more cars became trapped. Eventually, the Hawes fire crew in wetsuits and lifejackets, supported by a Leyburn crew and water rescue teams from Richmond and Ripon, took five adults and four children to safety.

Less than three hours later, all four teams were called to a fourth trapped vehicle, this time at Bainbridge on the A684, and rescued a man from his car.