Call for warning signs at ford where woman died

Vanessa Robson, 53, who lived at 18th century White Hall, in Beverley Parks, drowned in Hartoft Beck, near Rosedale Abbey, in February when fast flowing currents pushed her vehicle more than 100 yards until it became wedged up against Muffles Bridge.

The married mother-of-three owned two holiday cottages in the area and had been due to visit them prepare for the arrival of new guests, an inquest at Scarborough County Court was told.

But as she attempted to negotiate the ford the waters had risen more than 2ft above normal.

Her husband Ian, an accountant, told the hearing he last saw his wife as he left for work that morning. She would always use the ford to get to the cottages.

There was another road she could have taken but that would have meant carrying the cleaning equipment more than 300 yards across a field, he added.

The first he knew anything was wrong was when he was told his wife's handbag had been found on a bridge.

Pc Stuart Langford told the inquest the vehicle would have subject to about 24 tonnes of water pressure.

He added: "It was an exceptional downpour of rain. It had been raining constantly since about 1am and the water level began to rise about 5am. It also appears the vehicle had rolled at least once under the water."

Recording a verdict of accidental death, North Yorkshire East Coroner Michael Oakley ruled Mrs Robson had been the victim of a "tragic accident" adding: "I will be informing the Highways Agency about putting a sign up to warn motorists about the ford in the future."