AN eight-year-old child was one of four people who had to be rescued from a car trapped by flood waters this weekend.

Northumbria Police received a report of a vehicle trapped in floods caused by Storm Ciara near Bellingham on Sunday.

A spokeswoman for the police said: "The car, a white Suzuki Splash, was carrying four people, including and eight-year-old child and had come into trouble after hitting flood water while travelling back to Sunderland from the Kielder area.

"On the ground officers worked with little information and travelled the expected route of the car, with the assistance of the police helicopter which searched the surrounding area.

"Fortunately, the flooding car was located soon after and the occupants were safely rescued by officers."