A driver had a lucky escape after his car was submerged in a flooded river crossing this afternoon.

The man was visiting his father in the New Forest from Harrogate in North Yorkshire when he used the ford on Forest Road, in Burley this morning.

But after heavy rain today, the river water levels rose which resulted in him being trapped on his way back through. 

The man climbed out of the rear passenger door to escape and got soaked in the process.

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He said: “I got through alright this morning, but I hadn’t realised how deep it was when I came back.”

Fire crews from Ringwood were called around 4pm when it was feared that someone might be trapped inside the Mercedes Benz.

When firefighters arrived at the scene, they found the owner already outside the car and crews in full water rescue gear checked that no one else was inside.

Tape was put across the road to stop any other motorists trying to cross the ford which has been the scene of numerous similar incidents.

The ambulance service was informed of the incident but did not send paramedics as no one was injured.