Fire crews rescue stranded driver from flooded ford on Shropshire border

Fire crews had to help the woman, in her 30s, from the submerged Hyundai i30 after it got stuck in the swollen stream on Furnace Grange Road in Trescott, on the border with Staffordshire. Her passenger had managed to free himself before help arrived.

The ford, near the junction with the A454 Bridgnorth Road, had flooded due to rainfall overnight and the car was stranded at 8am yesterday.

A spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance Service, who sent paramedics to the scene, said: "She was rescued by the fire service with the use of a ladder, before being assessed by ambulance staff. Thankfully she was uninjured and discharged on scene"

"A man, who had managed to free himself from the vehicle prior to the arrival of emergency services, was also uninjured."

The ford has caught out a number of drivers in recent years.

The spokeswoman said: "When approaching a ford, it is essential to slow down and check water levels on the relevant marker posts before attempting to pass through.

"If you are unsure of the depth and have no way of checking, it is advisable to try and find an alternative route."