POLICE in County Durham today criticised motorists whose actions put them at risk during the recent adverse weather conditions.

Chief Inspector Andy Huddleston, deputy head of the force's operational support unit, paid tribute to the volunteer rescuers who joined officers going to the aid of stranded drivers during the last three weeks.

Chief Inspector Huddleston said in two instances over the weekend the "foolish behaviour" of drivers had put not only themselves in danger but other people.

Early yesterday evening police were helped by members of the Teesdale and Weardale Mountain Search and Rescue Team after a 4x4 vehicle being driven by a Bishop Auckland man became trapped in the snow at the top of Crawleyside bank on the B6278 road at Stanhope.

The 45-year-old had unsuccessfully attempted to dig himself out before summoning help from the police shortly before 6.30pm.

When conditions, including six to seven feet snowdrifts, made it impossible for police officers sent from Stanley to reach the stranded motorist, the Teesdale and Weardale Search and Rescue Team volunteers were called in.

They travelled as far as they could in a vehicle before proceeding on foot. The driver was found safe and well in his Mitsubishi vehicle at about 8.30pm.

At about 11.30pm on Saturday night members of the team were also involved in the rescue of people on board a private ambulance which had set off to travel to Carlisle. After discovering the A66 was closed the driver had taken a diversion through the Langdon Beck and Forest-n-Teesdale areas.

A mechanical fault caused the ambulance to break down on the B6277 Middleton-in-Teesdale to Brough road. Two police officers and members of the mountain rescue team went to the aid of the three people stranded on board and transported them to Darlington Memorial Hospital.

Chief Inspector Huddleston said: "In the last 48 hours police and the mountain rescue volunteers have been involved in two operations made necessary by the stupidity of drivers.

"As with the 4x4 incident the private ambulance driver's actions were foolhardy. The conditions were such that any attempt to cross the high fell roads put not only his own but also other people's safety at risk."

"Over the last three weeks the mountain rescue team has been involved in 50 callouts several of which could have been avoided if the people who needed rescuing had acted more responsibly. At the end of the day the team is made up of volunteers who willingly risk their own safety to help others. Thankfully, due to their specialist service tragedies have been averted."