A DRIVER escaped unhurt when his car was swept away in flood water while attempting to cross a ford on the swollen River Horner at Bossington yesterday afternoon.

The car was washed off the ford and submerged under a footbridge further downstream.

“Luckily, the driver was able to escape from the vehicle before the force of the water pushed it downstream,” a Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue spokesman said.

After making sure there was no-one in the vehicle, fire crews from Minehead and Porlock made the scene safe by cordoning off the ford and closing the footbridge.

The spokesman appealed to people not to attempt to travel through floodwater or fords in vehicles: “This not only puts you at great risk but also the public and first responders.”