RIVER rescuers who formed a human chain to save an elderly couple are to receive top lifesaving awards.

The Royal Humane Society is honouring four men and a woman who waded into the flooded River Wear at Stanhope after the pensioners' car was swept off a ford.

Andrew Norman, aged 43, of Thimbleby Hill Farm, Stanhope; Paul Pemberton, 23, of Bondisle Way, Stanhope; Paul Reay, of Bankfoot Grove, Crook, and Elizabeth Douglas, of Osbourne Terrace, Frosterley, will all receive Testimonials on Parchment. Mark Drinkwater, of Coventry, has been awarded a Testimonial on Vellum for organising the chain.

He had seen the couple trying to wade to the riverbank from their car. When the woman slipped and went under, both she and her husband were dragged five yards downstream in water 6ft deep.

The society citation says that Mr Drinkwater grabbed them and shouted for help.

The others formed a chain and the couple were passed along the five rescuers to safety. The wife was airlifted to hospital where she was joined by her husband. Both were suffering from cold and shock.

Society secretary Christopher Tyler said: "All five truly deserve their awards for working together to save this couple from a very strong and dangerous current."