TWO motorists were airlifted to safety last night after their car was swept away by flood water, as torrential rain and gales brought parts of northern Britain to a standstill.

Rivers and streams across the Yorkshire Dales burst their banks, leaving roads closed and some villages cut off.

The most dramatic rescue took place at Thornton Rust, between Leyburn and Hawes, where a car carrying three people was washed away.

One person managed to escape from the water, but two others had to be rescued by a helicopter from RAF Kinloss.

They were taken to the Friarage Hospital, in Northallerton, suffering from mild hypothermia.

North Yorkshire fire crews rescued five other people trapped in their cars by floodwater, including a man stranded at Gunnerside.

Police advised drivers to avoid the Reeth area altogether after a partial collapse of the bridge over the River Swale, on the B6270, in nearby Grinton.

Andrew Atkin, landlord of The Bridge Inn, Grinton, said it was the worst flooding he has seen in his nine years there.

He said: “My brother lives 300 yards away across the bridge and he can’t get home.”

Safety concerns were raised about the bridge between Low Lane and the B6270 near Low Whita Farm, south-west of Healaugh, and it was closed.

Police also closed the A6108 between Leyburn and Reeth and the A684 between Leyburn and Hawes.

Swaledale Mountain Rescue was brought in to help police check stranded cars, and students at Wensleydale School and Sixth Form in Leyburn were sent home early as roads began to flood.

Rescue crews were called in to search the river banks in Reeth near the swing bridge after torchlights were spotted.

Police said no one had been reported missing in the area.

In some areas of the Yorkshire Dales, 50mm of rainwater fell over Wednesday night and throughout Thursday.

Lee Warburton, manager of Brompton-on-Swale Caravan and Camping park, said the River Swale was at the highest level it has ever been recorded.

“It’s 2.65m at the moment,” he said. “Luckily we’re closed for the winter.

“But it’s a furious old beast at the moment. There’s trees and all kinds of things being carried along by it.”

The high winds and heavy rain are expected to turn to snow and ice overnight, leading to an urgent safety warning for drivers A North Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said: “The wet roads will become treacherous and we are warning motorists to avoid travelling unless absolutely necessary.

“If they do take to the roads in the morning, please take extra care, drive according to the road conditions and beware of black ice.”

The spokeswoman also warned drivers not to move road closure barriers.

“A number of motorists have ignored them or moved them, and have subsequently become stuck in flood water,”

she said. “It is also very dangerous for other road users who may believe the road is open when it is not, putting them at risk of becoming stranded.”

The A66 was temporarily closed in both directions between Scotch Corner, in North Yorkshire, and Appleby, in Cumbria yesterday lunchtime.

In Scotland, a top wind speed of 165mph was recorded on the summit of the Cairngorms in Aberdeenshire, the Met Office said.

Thousands of schools in Scotland were shut to allow pupils to get home safely.

Glasgow was one of the worst-hit areas, with 71mph winds recorded at lunchtime.

The University of Glasgow and Caledonian University were closed, as were all public museums, galleries, sports centres and libraries.

Cumbria saw heavy rain, and police said they received several calls from motorists stuck in floodwater in Ambleside, Windermere, Troutbeck and Selside.

The stormy weather also brought down trees in the North-East, and saw many events cancelled.

Darlington’s Christmas market had to be postponed and the Christmas Spectacular has now been rescheduled for December 15.