TWO men had to be winched to safety by an RAF helicopter when their van was stranded in a raging river yesterday lunchtime.

They were trapped in their delivery van for an hour and a half after trying to cross the River Wear at Stanhope ford, in Weardale, County Durham.

In a dramatic rescue operation, the pair were airlifted from the flooded white Mercedes Luton by RAF Boulmer's search and rescue helicopter.

The driver called 999 on his mobile telephone when the van was dragged off the causeway by the strong current, swollen by melting snow, and was resting partly on the river bed.

More than 20 rescuers were sent to the scene but firefighters were unable to reach the vehicle, so had to wait for RAF and police aircraft to arrive.

Station Officer Keith Wanley spoke to the pair on a mobile telephone throughout the operation.

He said: "We used a rocket line to set up a safety rope in case the van or men were swept downstream, so there was something to grab.

"I told them what was happening and tried to keep them calm. Physically they were perfectly okay, but understandably shaky and nervous.

"It was too dangerous to wade in, because of the wind and strong current we could have been washed away. A rescue boat was en route, but the helicopter arrived and was able to reach the van from above."

Sea King captain Flight Lieutenant Adam Thompson, said the men had a lucky escape.

He said: "The strong wind, which was about 30 or 40 knots, combined with nearby trees and power cables made it quite difficult to manoeuvre.

"The van was tilted on a 30 degree angle and the river was flowing rapidly, so there was a real risk of the vehicle being swept away.

"Fortunately, we were able to lower the winchman down to lift the men through the van window, otherwise they could have been in a lot of trouble."

The driver, a 24-year-old man from Sunderland, and the passenger, 19, from Chester-le- Street, were carried to safety on the river bank, where a paramedic crew was waiting.

The men, who were delivering a kitchen to a house in St John's Chapel, were said to have been shaken but uninjured.

A spokesman for Durham Police said the men had been interviewed and the driver was likely to face charges.