Woman, 53, dies after 4x4 vehicle swept away by raging torrent

It is believed the 53-year-old, from Beverley, was attempting to ford Hartoft Beck, in the middle of Cropton Forest on the North York Moors, near Rosedale Abbey.

Her body was recovered after a gruelling six-hour operation in one of the bleakest parts of the moors involving police, firefighters, coastguard rescue workers, a police underwater search unit from West Yorkshire and a search and rescue helicopter from RAF Leconfield, near Beverley.

The 999 team worked in treacherous conditions of mud, rain and snow to recover the wreckage which had lodged below Low Muffles Bridge and removed her body to a waiting ambulance shortly after 5pm.

It was not immediately clear what had happened but the vehicle appeared to have drifted more than 50 yards before stopping beneath the bridge.

Inspector Tim Hutchinson said police had received a call about a vehicle submerged in a Hartoft Beck shortly after midday.

"Police, fire, coastguard and ambulance responded because of the very difficult conditions," he said. "The river was well up. We had to search the vehicle and downstream. Sadly we have recovered the body of a woman from the river."

The woman has not been named. North Yorkshire East coroner Michael Oakley has been informed, however, and an inquest will be held.

It is not thought anyone else was in the vehicle. Police said they were continuing to make enquires to establish who the woman was.

Insp Hutchinson added: "It is too early to say what has occurred here but it has been raining very heavily on the North York Moors and the river levels are well up."

The Sea King pilot, Flight Lieutenant Nigel Lynch, said the weather conditions at the time were terrible and the river was extremely swollen.

The incident happened as torrential rain swept across the Yorkshire region with reports of some flooding in streets in the Scarborough area. There were also reports of flash flooding in parts of York and Selby last night.

In the Selby area fire crews helped after flood waters washed into a Spa shop on Selby Road, Eggborough.

Vehicles were reported to have been stranded by flood water at Normanby, near Malton, where roads had to be closed.

The downpour also affected roads in the Helperby area of Hambleton while in East Yorkshire rain and snow made for dangerous driving conditions on the main A166 road, with streets in Stamford Bridge and Fridaythorpe also affected.