Trapped woman spent night praying

Ms North's car moved several times during the night (pic courtesy of the Shropshire Star)

A woman who was trapped in her car for more than 10 hours after it was swept away in floods said she spent the night praying and thinking she would die.

Lesley North was returning home after visiting friends when she crossed the swollen Borle Brook in Billingsley, Bridgnorth, Shropshire on Sunday night.

Her car was spun around and she travelled 75yds (68.5m) downstream.

"I was absolutely petrified," she said. "It was pitch black and every time the car moved, I feared I might drown."

"I have a strong faith and spent the night praying. It's that which got me through it," she added.

It moved three times...and I feared I would end up out of sight to everyone and never be found Lesley North

West Mercia Police arrived on Monday morning after someone heard her shouts, and officers formed a human chain to rescue her from her flooded Vauxhall Astra.

"I saw the blue lights on their car first and I started screaming again hoping to be heard.

"I've never been so relieved in all my life."

Ms North, 45, from Bridgnorth, was cold and tired but unhurt.

She said the car moved three times during the night and water levels were up to the seats inside, but she wore her seatbelt and wrapped herself in a couple of blankets.

She was also unable to get a signal on her mobile phone.

A passer by heard her shouts (pic courtesy of the Shropshire Star)

"Initially, I thought I might die," she said.

"It moved three times...and I feared I would end up out of sight to everyone and never be found."

She said she did not realise there was any danger in crossing the ford as the level marker initially showed it was not very deep and other cars had crossed before her.

The water at the brook is normally said to be "just a trickle", but levels had risen considerably.

"The problem arose when the engine stalled just before I got to the other side," she said.

"The force of the water started pushing the car into the main brook."