By James HorePOLICE have rescued a motorist whose van plunged into a river, leaving him trapped with water up to his neck and suffering from hypothermia.

By James Hore

POLICE have rescued a motorist whose van plunged into a river, leaving him trapped with water up to his neck and suffering from hypothermia.

The 44-year-old man remained in his van for about 30 minutes after going into the River Colne at Ford Lane, Alresford.

Police received a call at about 11.30pm on Saturday saying there was a blue Volkswagen camper van in the water.

When officers arrived the water was up to the man's neck and the effects of the temperature meant he was struggling to move. Lifeboat crews from West Mersea and firefighters were also went to the scene.

The driver, who has not been named, was freed from the van by police and taken by ambulance to Colchester General Hospital, where he was treated for the effects of hypothermia.

Inspector Richard Day, of Clacton police, said: "We arrived on the scene at 11.36pm and he was out of the vehicle within 10 minutes. We physically helped him out of the vehicle. He was then put in an ambulance and taken to hospital in Colchester."

Fire crews from Chelmsford and Colchester were also called on Saturday to a woman who had fallen into a river.

The incident happened at just before 6.30pm near Shankestone Farm, Writtle Road, Chelmsford, but the 47-year-old woman managed to clamber out of the River Wid before more help was needed.

Shortly afterwards fire crews were also sent to Barons Lane, Purleigh, where a grey MG ZR was found upside down in a field. They found the keys had been taken from the vehicle, but there was no trace of the driver.

Essex Police said they had later been in contact with a woman who had been in the car and who had gone to hospital for treatment.

james.hore@eadt.co.uk