The men were winched from the van to safety

They were trying to cross the River Wear at Stanhope, on Monday, when the swollen river pushed their vehicle off the causeway.

The vehicle was swept about 200 yards downstream before it was stopped by an obstruction.

The 24-year-old driver, from Sunderland and 19-year-old passenger were winched to safety by a helicopter from RAF Boulmer in Northumberland after being stranded for an hour-and-a-half.

Rescue services called in the helicopter when initial attempts to reach the two men inside the car by ropes strung from the banks failed.

Heavy rainfall

The driver was interviewed by police, and reported for motoring offences.

The men - who work for a company in Birtley, Gateshead - were delivering a kitchen to St John's Chapel when their white Mercedes Luton van was swept off the causeway in three-foot-deep water.

The river was two feet above normal after heavy rainfall.

Eyewitness Harry Irwin said the signs warned drivers about the flooding risk.

He said: "The ford can be very dangerous but there are adequate signs put up at either side telling people not to attempt to cross the river when in flood.

"Some people take no notice. They put their own lives in danger and they put the lives of other people in danger."

Durham Police said they expected the van to be washed downstream.