Lorry driver gets stuck in ford after following sat nav

The vehicle got stuck halfway across Stanhope Ford, in Weardale, County Durham, as it tried to cross yesterday morning.

Fire and rescue crews were called out to rescue the driver after his offside wheels came off a roadway through the water at about 11.15am.

The 50-year-old driver, who was delivering mesh for a company based in Leeds, was unhurt and called for a recovery vehicle to tow his seven-and-a-half tonne lorry to the other side.

As part of standard procedure, emergency appliances attended from Stanhope Fire Station, which operates a retained service, with back-up from nearby Crook and Bishop Auckland. Police were also called to supervise the rescue.

Crew manager Peter Chisholm said: "Unfortunately, it is down to the wonders of modern technology - he was following his sat nav.

"He didn't know the area and it took him through the ford. We explained that there was a bridge further along and he was a little bit embarrassed, and he didn't know how his company were going to react."

Emergency services have been called to the ford about 30 times since 2000 and earlier this month, Durham County Council began formal consultation to close down the flood-prone crossing between October and April.

One witness, who lives near the ford, said: "A lot of people want to see it closed, and people who don't read the warnings do not help.

"Apparently his GPS (global positioning by satellite) told him to go that way, but you would still think people would use their common sense."

Mr Chisholm said the driver had been unlucky, because on this occasion the water levels of the ford, part of the River Wear, were not particularly high.

"There are warnings saying don't cross when it's flooded and the rule of thumb is, if the stepping stones are covered with water, you don't cross," he said.

"But it wasn't over the stepping stones, so it is unfortunate that he didn't get through - just two wheels had gone off."