TWO people had to be airlifted to safety after their four-wheel drive vehicle was swept downstream while attempting to ford a swollen river.

An RAF helicopter had to winch the pair to safety when their vehicle got stuck while attempting to driver over a ford over the River Wear, in County Durham.

The driver of the silver Mitsubishi Shogun and his teenage passenger were stranded in the river, swollen by two weeks of torrential rain, for an hour until they were lifted to safety.

A rescue helicopter from RAF Boulmer was scrambled to Stanhope, in Weardale, at 8.50pm on Wednesday answering a back-up call from police and fire crews already at the scene.

Fire crews launched a safety line across the river and had their rescue boat ready if anyone fell into the water before the helicopter arrived and winched the pair to safety.

The driver, a 22-year-old man from High Spen, and a girl, aged 16, from Consett, were examined by the ambulance crew and were said to be uninjured.

The incident raised fresh concern over the safety of the river crossing for the second time this year as it was almost identical to a rescue operation in January.

On that occasion, two men from the Sunderland area were rescued from the river when their delivery van was dragged from the causeway by the strong current.

The rescue mission was said to have cost £20,000 and the driver was later charged with dangerous driving.

Seaham fire station manager Tom Simms, a former Stanhope and Crook firefighter, was involved in Wednesday's rescue.

He said: "There has to be a way of making Stanhope ford safer. There may be signs but accidents are still happening.

"Hopefully, some technology or system can be put in place to stop people crossing when there is a flood risk."

Highways authority Durham County Council assessed the warning signs at Stanhope ford and reviewed alternative safety measures and felt that the newly installed signs were adequate if taken heed of.

A council spokesman said a further review of the ford is being considered.

Durham Police confirmed last night that they are investigating the incident.