Passers-by rescue man from car which plunged into Avon

An elderly driver was rescued from his vehicle by passers-by after his car left the road and plunged into the River Avon in Bath.

The incident happened in Chatham Row, Walcot, at about 1200 GMT.

The man, thought to be in his 70s, was taken to the Royal United Hospital in the city suffering from hypothermia.

Andy Richardson, of the Great Western Ambulance Service, said two passers-by were treated for minor cuts and hypothermia at the scene.

He said the service believed they had rescued the man from the car.

"The icy cold water causes the body temperature to drop very quickly so it doesn't take long to become hypothermic," he said.