A COUPLE who spent more than two hours trapped in a snowdrift on a moorland road have praised the firefighters who came to their rescue.

The pair, who are understood to be from County Durham, had travelled to Egton, on the North York Moors, for a weekend of rest and relaxation as one of them recovered from major surgery.

But heavy and persistent snow led to their BMW getting stuck on the Egton Bridge to Stape road, two miles outside Egton, on Friday (January 25) evening.

It is understood the couple’s breakdown company had refused to attend the incident.

Four firefighters from Whitby and another four volunteer firefighters from Goathland spent an hour trying to reach the couple.

On arrival they found the pair huddling for warmth inside the car, having unsuccessfully tried to dig themselves out.

The firefighters managed to turn the car around 180 degrees and drive it slowly back to the village, where the couple were put up for the night in the Horse Shoe Hotel, even though it is currently closed for refurbishment.

Watch manager Chris Watson, from Whitby fire station, described the conditions as “almost white-out at times”.

He said: “The snow was being whipped from the open fields onto the road. When we arrived, they were just trying to keep warm and had been digging for two hours.

“They were in reasonable spirits, but they certainly cheered up a bit when they saw us.

“We would not normally attend rescues such as this, we would expect people to find a farmhouse or walk into the village, but the wife had recently had major surgery, so we made an exception.”

Speaking to BBC Radio York, the rescued man said: “This was supposed to be a weekend break to get away and relax.

“We were rescued by the fire brigade, who were absolutely fantastic and got us in the Land Rover and brought us to the hotel.

“It was closed for refurbishment, but, because of our circumstances, was able to put us up.

“We are fine, we can laugh about it now, but there was not much laughing at the time.”

The couple, named only as Kenny and Louise, have now left the hotel and continued on their journey to enjoy what is left of their weekend away.

Were you the couple rescued or do you know them? Call the newsdesk on 01325-505065 or email newsdesk@nne.co.uk